Anas and Umair Lead Pakistan to Victory Against Korea in Fifth-Place Final

In Cairo, at the Black Ball venue, the Pakistani team, consisting of Abdullah Nawaz, Anas Ali Shah, and Muhammad Umair Arif, showcased resilience by securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Korea in the World Junior Squash Championship men’s competition, ultimately clinching fifth place.

The final placement match began on a challenging note for Pakistan as Abdullah faced a 3-1 defeat against Joo Young Na.

Abdullah started strongly, winning the first game 12-10, but Young Na responded impressively, taking the next three games to give Korea a 1-0 advantage with scores of 12-10, 4-11, 3-11, and 3-11.

Responding to the 1-0 deficit, Anas stepped up for Pakistan and defeated Jeong Uk Ryu with scores of 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 5-11, and 11-3, leveling the match and setting the stage for a decisive final.

During the crucial third match, Umair faced a tough challenge from Jonghyeok Lee, resulting in a thrilling five-game battle. Umair ultimately prevailed with scores of 13-11, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, and 11-8.

His hard-earned victory ensured Pakistan’s fifth-place finish in the World Junior Squash Championship 2025.

The national team commenced their fifth to eighth classification campaign with a dominant 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic, with Abdullah and Umair both securing comfortable wins in their respective matches.

Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan’s journey in the men’s team competition concluded with a 0-2 defeat against England in the quarter-finals.

In the opening match of the knockout round, Anas represented Pakistan but was defeated in straight sets by England’s Dylan Roberts with scores of 11-7, 11-6, and 11-5.

The subsequent match mirrored this result, with Alexander Broadbridge securing a straight-set victory over Abdullah Nawaz with scores of 14-12, 11-2, and 11-9.

These consecutive defeats gave England an insurmountable 2-0 lead, rendering the final match between Muhammad Umair Arif and Ismail Khalil unnecessary.

This defeat also signaled the end of Pakistan’s participation in the World Junior Squash Championship, as all national players had previously been eliminated from the individual competitions.

Abdullah stood out as a key performer for Pakistan in the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals in the team event and the Round of 16 in the individual competitions.

Despite the players’ early exit from the tournament, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) expressed that their overall performance was ‘encouraging’.