Asian Games: Noor Zaman outclasses compatriot Ashab Irfan to finish third in squash singles

NAGOYA: Pakistan's Noor Zaman on Sunday outclassed compatriot Mohammad Ashab Irfan 3-0 to finish third in the men's squash singles competition of the Asian Games 2026 here at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

The all-Pakistan third-place playoff lasted only 26 minutes as Zaman made light work of his compatriot Irfan, beating him 11-7, 11-7 and 13-11 to secure the podium finish.

Zaman, who suffered a gruelling 3-0 defeat at the hands of defending champion Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia, made a dominant start to the classification match as he took just eight minutes to seal the opening game 11-7.

He was even more ruthless in the second, taking two minutes less to prevail with the same scoreline, and moved one game away from rounding up a high-stakes victory.

Irfan, however, offered notable resistance in the third game but ultimately fell short 13-11, with Zaman clinching the third position in the men's singles squash competition at the Asian Games 2026.

It is pertinent to mention that both Zaman and Irfan had already secured a bronze medal apiece for Pakistan regardless of the outcome of the recently concluded third-place playoff.

Irfan, who booked his place in the semi-finals by defeating an Indian opponent, Veer Chotrani, was outclassed by the latter's compatriot, Abhay Singh, in the high-stakes fixture.

Singh did not allow Irfan to settle in the first semi-final and thus clinched the opening game 11-3 in just nine minutes.

Irfan offered a notable fightback in the subsequent game but still ended up conceding 11-2, while Singh clinched the deciding game swiftly 11-6 in just eight minutes to round up a thumping victory.