Pakistan Squash Star Stuns Former World No. 1 to Reach Major Tournament Quarterfinals

Pakistan's rising squash star Noor Zaman caused a major upset at the PSA Gold Silicon Valley Open on Wednesday, defeating defending champion and world No.

Key points

• The 22-year-old Pakistani delivered an impressive performance against the tournament's second seed, winning 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 in 52 minutes at Squash Zone.
• Irfan had previously defeated Hungary's Balazs Farkas in straight games, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, but could not maintain that form against the experienced Egyptian.
• Pakistan's Mohammad Ashab Irfan exited the tournament in the round of 16 after a 3-0 defeat to fifth seed Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt.
• Hailing from Peshawar, Noor is the grandson of former world squash champion Qamar Zaman.
• Noor took control early, winning the first two games before Abdel Gawad fought back to claim the third.

Notably, the 22-year-old Pakistani delivered an impressive performance against the tournament's second seed, winning 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 in 52 minutes at Squash Zone. Pakistani Star All-Rounder Makes Massive Jump in Latest ICC ODI Rankings.

Noor took control early, winning the first two games before Abdel Gawad fought back to claim the third. Nevertheless, the Pakistani regained his momentum in the fourth game to complete a 3-1 victory in the $143, 500 men's event.

"I was ready mentally and physically today, and I think now is the time for me to beat the top players, " Noor remarked after the match.

In practice, the victory is a significant achievement for Noor. This person is at present ranked among the world's top 35 players. He had earlier secured his place in the round of 16 with a 3-1 win over American wildcard Bransten Ming, recovering from an opening-game defeat to win 3-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 in 41 minutes.

Hailing from Peshawar, Noor is the grandson of former world squash champion Qamar Zaman. He has continued his family's sporting legacy, winning the 2025 World Under-23 Squash Championship and five PSA Tour titles.

His latest victory is particularly notable given Abdel Gawad's experience at the highest level, having previously held the world No. 1 ranking and won a number of major PSA titles. Pakistan's Rising Star Joins Elite Firm After Historic ODI Performance.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Mohammad Ashab Irfan exited the tournament in the round of 16 after a 3-0 defeat to fifth seed Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt.

For context, the PSA World Tour Gold event offers equal prize funds to men and women as squash prepares to produce its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Noor will now look to carry his momentum into the quarterfinals as he intends to further improve his world ranking and strengthen Pakistan's position in international squash. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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In short, pakistan Squash Star Stuns Former World No. 1 to Reach Major Tournament is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.