Reigning champion Hamza Khan was stunned by South Korea’s Joo Young Na in the quarter-finals of the WSF World Junior Squash Championships.
The defending champion and second seed, Khan, saw his title defence come to an abrupt end with a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday.
Na made history by becoming the first Korean to reach the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament. He started strong, pinning Khan in the back corners and capitalising on errors to take a 2-0 lead.
Khan, who ended Pakistan’s 37-year wait for the title last year, mounted a comeback in the third and fourth games, winning 11-7 and 11-3, respectively. However, Na regained his composure in the decisive fifth game, securing an 11-5 victory despite a late surge from Khan.
“It was a very tough game, I’m so exhausted! I tried to play with confidence and be aggressive. I’m so happy to win and go through to the semi-final,” Na said after the match.
Khan’s unexpected exit underscores the competitive nature of the tournament, which continues to produce thrilling upsets and memorable performances.
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