Fawad claims KP junior squash title

PESHAWAR: Muhammad Fawad Khan emerged as the Under-17 champion at the inaugural Shams-ul-Qamar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Junior Squash Championship on Saturday, beating Anas Ali Sajjad in a five-game final at the Qamar Zaman Squash Complex in Peshawar.

Fawad survived a fiercely-contested battle to seal a 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4 win and lift the Under-17 trophy after a match in which both players had periods of control.

The champion made a strong start, taking the opening game 11-7, but Anas responded immediately by winning the second 11-8 to level the contest.

Fawad regained the advantage in the third game, winning 11-5, but Anas refused to surrender and pushed the fourth set deep into a close contest. Fawad, eventually, won it 12-10 to move within one game of the title.

The fifth set saw Fawad maintain his composure as he completed 3-2 victory with an 11-4 score-line.

In the Under-15 final, Fahad Arif produced a more straightforward performance, defeating Atif Ali 3-0 to secure the championship without dropping a game.

Arif controlled the match from the opening exchanges, winning 11-3 in the first game. He continued to dictate play in the second, taking it 11-8, before closing out the contest 11-9 in the third.

The tournament, held at the Qamar Zaman Squash Complex at Qayyum Sports Stadium, brought together junior players competing in the Under-15 and Under-17 categories and provided a platform for emerging talent from the province.

Former world champion and squash legend Qamar Zaman attended the closing ceremony as chief guest.