Key Takeaways
- Noor Zaman stunned defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad to advance to the quarter-finals.
- The 22-year-old Pakistan player won 3-1 in a 52-minute match.
- Zaman's victory marks a strong run of form, climbing into the world's top 30.
Pakistan's Noor Zaman, ranked among the world's top 35 players, secured a surprising victory over defending champion and world No. 4 Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt in the Silicon Valley Open at Redwood City, California.
The match, which lasted 52 minutes, saw Zaman triumph 3-1, with scores of 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, and 11-6.
Zaman, who is the grandson of former world champion Qamar Zaman and the 2025 U-23 world champion, expressed his readiness for the challenge, stating, 'I was ready mentally and physically today, and I think now is the time for me to beat the top players.'
In his previous match, Zaman had already secured his place in the last 16 with a 3-1 victory over American wildcard Bransten Ming, overcoming the opening game 3-11 before fighting back to win 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 in 41 minutes.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Ashab Irfan of Pakistan bowed out in the last 16 after losing 3-0 to fifth seed Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt. Irfan had earlier defeated Hungary's Balazs Farkas 11-6, 11-4, 11-5.
The PSA World Tour Gold event, offering equal prize money for men and women, is part of squash's preparation for its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
Zaman's performance reflects a strong run of form, contributing to his climb into the world's top 30 and securing five PSA titles in recent months.
The event, held at the Squash Zone, continues to showcase the growing prominence of Pakistani players on the international stage.
I was ready mentally and physically today, and I think now is the time for me to beat the top players.
Noor Zaman, Professional squash player
