PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: Celebrations erupted in Peshawar and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after two young squash players from the city secured gold medals at the Asian Junior Squash Championship in China, bringing pride to Pakistan.
In the Under-15 final, Peshawar’s Ahmad Rayan Khalil defeated Malaysia’s Vedoran Rotheran 3-0 to claim the Asian Under-15 Championship title. In the Under-17 category, Pakistan’s Nauman Khan outclassed India’s Shiven Agarwal 3-0 to become the Asian Under-17 Champion.
Pakistan won two gold medals in the individual events, marking a significant achievement for the country’s squash revival efforts.
Former world champion Qamar Zaman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Squash Association President Dawood Khan hailed the players’ success, attributing it to consistent grassroots development and regular tournaments organized despite limited resources.
Dawood Khan said the association’s monthly competitions had helped nurture young talent, leading to the emergence of Asian champions from Peshawar. He congratulated the players and expressed confidence in their future achievements.
Qamar Zaman termed the victories a major boost for squash in Pakistan and urged the provincial government to support the sport. He noted that the association had not received its annual grant for six years but continued to train and develop young players, making the latest triumphs even more remarkable.
Both officials congratulated Ahmad Rayan Khalil and Nauman Khan on their outstanding performances and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting squash in the province.
