Three Pakistan players advance into Round of 64 at World Junior Squash Championship

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE: Pakistan's young squash players delivered an impressive performance in the opening round of the World Junior Squash Championship as Nauman Khan and Yahya Khan won their respective matches to advance into the Round of 16 here on Monday.

Nauman kick-started his campaign with a dominant straight-set victory over New Zealand's Vihan Chathury in the opening round, prevailing with a magnificent scoreline of 11-6, 11-6 and 11-3 to qualify for the next round, in which he will take on Japan's Ren Makino.

Yahya, on the other hand, inflicted an equally crushing defeat on Switzerland's Morris Frey in his campaign opener, securing a thumping 11-4, 11-5 and 11-5 to storm into the Round of 64, where he too will lock horns with a Japanese opponent, Shu Takahashi.

Another Pakistani to qualify for the Round of 64 was Muhammad Umair Arif, who received a walkover from Sri Lanka's Matheesha Wijesekara, and will next face Macau's Ian Miguel De Sousa.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Abdullah Nawaz received a bye into the Round of 64, for which his opponent is yet to be determined.

It is pertinent to mention that all four Pakistan players will make their mark at the World Junior Squash Championship's Round of 64 on Tuesday.

For the unversed, Pakistan players' triumphant start at the global tournament came just a month after their strong showing at the Asian Junior Squash Championships 2026 in China, which saw them clinch five medals, including two golds, one of which was won by Nauman.

In the Boys U-17 final, Nauman overcame India’s Shiven Agarwal 3-1, registering a 10-12, 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 victory in a 46-minute contest to secure the title after recovering strongly from an opening-game setback.