Key Takeaways
- Noor Zaman lost 1-3 to Mohamed Elshorbagy in the quarter-finals of the Silicon Valley Open.
- Zaman had previously defeated world No. 4 Karim Abdel Gawad in the previous round.
- Elshorbagy advances to the semi-finals to face Mohamad Zakaria.
Pakistan's Noor Zaman's impressive run at the PSA Gold Silicon Valley Open came to an end on Thursday after he lost 1-3 to England's fifth seed Mohamed Elshorbagy in the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old from Peshawar, who had earlier stunned defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad, managed to take the opening game 11-8 but was unable to maintain his momentum.
Elshorbagy, the former world champion who claimed the title in 2017, showed his experience by winning the next three games 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, securing the victory in a 53-minute match.
Despite the loss, Zaman's performance was notable, as he had previously defeated the second seed Gawad 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 in 52 minutes to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in his career.
Zaman, the grandson of legendary former world champion Qamar Zaman and the 2025 under-23 world champion, has had an impressive season, breaking into the world's top 30 and winning five PSA titles.
His performances have strengthened his standing among Pakistan's emerging squash players, and his exit means Pakistan will have no representation in the last four of the $143,500 tournament.
The event, being held as squash prepares for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, saw Elshorbagy advance to the semi-finals to face Egypt's Mohamad Zakaria.
The semi-finals are scheduled to be played on Friday, with Elshorbagy looking to continue his strong form and secure a place in the final.
