London, Ontario — September 25: Pakistan’s rising squash stars Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan booked their spots in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Nash Cup 2025 in Canada after impressive wins in the Round of 16.
Noor Zaman’s Confident Victory
Seeded fifth in the tournament, Noor Zaman looked sharp against Argentina’s Jeremias Azna. The 20-year-old Pakistani started strong, clinching the first game 11-6. Azna fought back in the second, edging it 14-12, but Noor showed composure under pressure. He regained control by winning the next two games 12-10 and 11-7, sealing the match 3–1 in just under an hour.
Ashab Irfan Survives Thriller
Ashab Irfan, meanwhile, had to dig deep in a nail-biting five-setter against Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva. The match swung back and forth: Irfan took the opener 11-5, dropped the second 5-11, bounced back 11-4, then lost the fourth 7-11. With the tie level, he held his nerve in the decider, closing it out 11-6 to secure a hard-fought 3–2 victory.
Next Challenge
The quarterfinal stage won’t be easy. Noor Zaman will face Colombia’s Ronald Palomino, who stunned third seed Leandro Romiglio in straight games. Ashab Irfan has a tough task against India’s Veer Chotrani, the tournament’s fourth seed.
Why It Matters
The Nash Cup, a PSA World Tour Copper event, is a key opportunity for young players to climb the rankings and build international experience. Noor, already known as one of Pakistan’s brightest squash prospects, will be aiming to carry his momentum further. Ashab, on the other hand, will see this as a career-defining chance to prove himself against higher-ranked opponents.
