Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan secured a spot in the final of the Jones Creek Open Squash tournament in the United States after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Brazil’s Diogo Gobbi in the semi-finals. The 53-minute clash saw Ashab claim the match with scores of 11-7, 14-12, 4-11, and 11-5, showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess. Meanwhile, compatriot Asim Khan, the tournament’s top seed, suffered an unexpected 3-1 defeat against Malaysia’s Nathan Chua, ending his campaign with scores of 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, and 11-9.
Earlier in the tournament, both Pakistani players had displayed strong form to reach the semi-finals. Asim Khan fought back from a game down to defeat Egypt’s Omar El Kattan 3-1 in the quarterfinals, with scores of 10-12, 11-3, 11-3, and 13-11. Ashab Irfan, on the other hand, delivered a dominant performance against Mexico’s Cesar Segundo, sweeping him aside 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-3) to advance. Their victories had set up an exciting semi-final stage for the Pakistani contingent.
The journey to the semi-finals had been equally impressive for both players. Asim Khan overcame Egypt’s Kareem Badawi 3-1 in the second round, winning 11-3, 11-6, 5-11, and 11-8 in 45 minutes. Ashab Irfan, seeded second, showcased his aggressive style with a swift 20-minute demolition of America’s Christopher Gordon, conceding just 10 points across three games (11-2, 11-4, 11-4). Their performances had raised hopes for a potential all-Pakistani final.
However, it was not a successful outing for all Pakistani players in the tournament. Ahsan Ayaz, the seventh seed, was knocked out in a thrilling five-game battle against Egypt’s Omar El Kattan, losing 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11 after 58 minutes. Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim also exited in the round of 16, falling to Brazil’s Diego Gobbi despite winning the first game. The final scoreline read 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 in Gobbi’s favor after 47 minutes of play.