Squash victory

Pakistan's emphatic 2-0 victory over South Korea at the 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship in Islamabad marks a historic milestone. World No 28 Noor Zaman dismantled Jeongmin Ryu (11-5, 11-7, 13-11), while World No 71 Muhammad Asim Khan dominated Seojin Oh (11-6, 11-5, 11-4) to secure the gold medal for Pakistan. Crucially, the triumph – at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad – breaks a decade-long drought, representing Pakistan's first men's senior Asian Team title since 2016.

There are other rising stars – like Ashab Irfan (ranking between 45 and 49) and the battle-tested Nasir Iqbal (No 95) – that highlight a promising depth on the global circuit. However, the ultimate goal remains reclaiming the global summit once ruled by legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan – and before them Hashim Khan and Roshan Khan. A global ranking of 13th for the national squad underlines the vast ground yet to be covered.

To capitalise on this triumph, the government and squash stakeholders need to: 1) Break the sport's dependency on erratic state funding by offering tax incentives to major corporate brands that directly sponsor individual players' international travel and training regimes. 2) Direct the PSF to finance extended training stints at elite academies in Egypt or Europe, ensuring players regularly compete in high-tier PSA World Tour events to rapidly boost their individual rankings. 3) Shift administrative control from bureaucratic figures to former legends and sports science professionals capable of modernizing fitness, nutrition and mental training.

This Asian crown proves that Pakistan's raw talent holds immense promise. With structured, institutional reform, this regional victory can serve as the baseline for a true global renaissance.