Pakistan names seven-player squad for Asian Junior Squash Championships

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will send a seven-member junior squad to the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Panzhihua, China, from May 20 to 24.

According to the Pakistan Squash Federation, the national contingent will be overseen by Director Academies Group Captain (R) Irfan Asghar and Head Coach Fahim Gul as the country’s young players compete against leading emerging talent from across Asia in the continental event.

Pakistan squad for the event

The Pakistani lineup includes five boys and two girls across multiple age-group categories.

In the boys’ draw, Abdullah Nawaz has been entered in the Under-19 category, while Nouman Khan will compete in Under-17. Ahmed Rayyan Khalil and Sohail Adnan are set to feature in the Under-15 event, and Mustafa Khan will represent Pakistan in the Under-13 category.

In the girls’ competition, Sehrish Ali and Mahnoor Ali will both play in the Under-15 category.

Continental platform for emerging players

The championship is considered one of the leading junior squash tournaments in Asia and offers young players an opportunity to test themselves at the international level. It also serves as an important stage for participants seeking greater exposure and improvement in their continental rankings.

The Pakistan Squash Federation said the event will bring together top junior players from around the region, giving Pakistan’s representatives a chance to measure themselves against strong opposition in their respective age groups.

Pakistan squash officials have expressed confidence in the team’s prospects at the tournament and said they expect the country’s junior players to produce solid performances in China.

Officials also voiced hope that the squad would help carry forward Pakistan’s long-standing tradition in squash through encouraging results at the championship.

The event will run over five days in Panzhihua, where Pakistan’s junior players are set to begin their latest continental campaign in a competition regarded as a significant stepping stone for rising squash talent in Asia.