Women squash aces battle it out

Various young talents emerge in hard fought tournament

The Third McDonald's Junior and Women's Squash Championship 2024 was held at the PSF Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, PSB Coaching Center.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's 13-year-old Mahnoor Ali defeated Punjab's much more experienced international player Roshna Mehmood 3-1 to win the Women's event.

Punjab's Sohail Adnan claimed the Boys' Under-13 title by defeating Punjab's Syed Muhammad Hassan 3-0 in a straightforward match. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Atif Ali Naz emerged as the Boys' Under-9 champion, defeating Sindh's Aban Khan 3-0 without losing a single game.

The five-day championship, supported by the American Business Council of Pakistan with a prize fund of 600,000 PKR, concluded with finals and a closing ceremony. McDonald's CEO Amin Lakhani was the chief guest at the event.

Other notable attendees included McDonald's COO Jamil Mughal, Maaz Hanif, Sindh Squash Association President Adnan Asad, Secretary Muhammad Amir Khan, as well as the parents and guardians of the participating players.

Speaking to the media, Amin Lakhani highlighted McDonald's Pakistan's commitment to promoting sports and providing ample opportunities for young talents to showcase their skills. He emphasised McDonald's dedication to helping Pakistan reclaim its lost global stature in squash and assured the organization's continued efforts in this regard.

Lakhani also praised the Sindh Squash Association and its president, Adnan Asad, for their contributions to the sport.

Adnan Asad remarked that efforts are being made to bring new talent to the forefront in squash, along with better opportunities for emerging players. He urged other organizations to follow McDonald's lead in supporting sports initiatives. Players and their parents also shared their thoughts, appreciating the championship as a commendable event.