Pakistan settle for squash silver as Iran end volleyball run at Asian Games
Pakistan settle for squash silver as Iran end volleyball run at Asian Games
The country’s wait for a men’s squash team gold goes on. Sixteen years after beating Malaysia 2-0 in Guangzhou for their last title in the event, Pakistan found the result reversed at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Friday, losing the final 2-0 to the same opponents.
It is Pakistan’s second successive runners-up finish in the event, after also losing the final to India at the last edition in Hangzhou. Their search for a first Asian Games team gold since 2010 continues.
Pakistan settle for squash silver after Malaysia fightback
Nasir Iqbal got the final under way against Ameeshenraj Chandaran and started brightly, racing into a 6-1 lead before the Malaysian, ranked 95th in the world, clawed his way back. Nasir, ranked 94th, held his nerve to close out the opener 11-8 in nine minutes.
Chandaran responded instantly in the second, surging from 4-2 to 10-2 with a six-point run and levelling at 11-3. He carried that momentum through the third, trading points to 6-6 before reeling off four straight for an 11-6 win. The Malaysian completed the job in the fourth, sealing an 11-4 win — a 3-1 victory in games that put Malaysia 1-0 up in the tie.
That left Pakistan’s top-ranked Noor Zaman needing a win over Eain Yow Ng, the same opponent who had beaten him in the individual singles semi-final earlier in the Games and the reigning singles gold medallist, to keep the final alive. The rematch went the full five games.
Ng, ranked 18th, edged the opener 11-8 before Noor took the second 11-6. The third was the standout of the tie — a 15-minute war of long rallies in which neither player led by more than two points for long, before Noor edged clear late to win it 11-7 and move ahead 2-1.
Ng hit back ruthlessly in the fourth, racing to a 5-0 lead and closing it out 11-4 in five minutes to force a decider. The fifth got away from Noor early, and Ng sealed both the game and the gold for Malaysia with an 11-4 win.
With Malaysia already 2-0 up, Pakistan’s third player, Mohammed Ashab Irfan, did not need to take the court. Both Noor and Ashab had already won singles bronzes at these Games.
Iran end Pakistan’s volleyball run in straight sets
Pakistan’s volleyball campaign will end with a shot at bronze after a 3-0 semi-final defeat to three-time defending champions Iran at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium on Friday. The scores were 25-13, 25-15, 25-11.
Ali Usman Faryad led Pakistan’s scoring with 11 points, while Murad Khan added nine and Afaq Khan chipped in with three. Jabran and Musawer Khan contributed two points apiece.
Iran’s dominance at the net was decisive. The Iranians converted 64 per cent of their spikes (43 of 68) compared to Pakistan’s 34 per cent (27 of 81), and won the blocking battle 15-1. Iran finished with 75 total points to Pakistan’s 39, and also edged the digs 64 per cent to 42 per cent.
Pakistan had reached the last four with a commanding 3-0 quarter-final win over India, before falling to hosts Japan in their final pool match. They will face either Japan or China in the bronze-medal match on Saturday. Iran, who edged South Korea 3-2 in a five-set quarter-final thriller, advance to the final.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Asian Games men’s squash team final?
Malaysia beat Pakistan 2-0 in the final at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Friday, reversing the result of the 2010 final in Guangzhou, which Pakistan won 2-0.
When did Pakistan last win squash team gold at the Asian Games?
Pakistan’s last men’s team gold came in 2010 at Guangzhou. They finished runners-up in 2022 (losing to India) and again in 2026 (losing to Malaysia).
Who does Pakistan play in the volleyball bronze-medal match?
Pakistan face either Japan or China in the bronze-medal match on Saturday after their 3-0 semi-final defeat to defending champions Iran.
How did Pakistan reach the volleyball semi-final?
Pakistan beat India 3-0 in the quarter-final to reach the last four, having earlier lost to hosts Japan in their final pool match.
