Pakistan Win Asian Team Squash Championship, Beating South Korea 2-0 in Islamabad Final

Pakistan are champions of Asia in squash once again. The men’s team beat South Korea 2-0 in the final of the 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad on Saturday, 7 November 2026, winning both matches in straight games in front of a home crowd.

Noor Zaman gave Pakistan the lead with a 3-0 win over South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu, and Mohammad Asim Khan sealed the title with a 3-0 win over Seojin Oh. It is Pakistan’s first Asian team title since 2016 and the country’s 16th gold medal in the history of the tournament.

For a sport that once made Pakistan famous around the world, the win feels like a homecoming. The championship was played on home soil, the final was won without dropping a single game, and two young Pakistani players delivered when it mattered most.

How Pakistan Won the Final

The final was a best-of-three tie, which means the first team to win two matches takes the title. Pakistan needed only two.

Noor Zaman played first and set the tone. He beat Jeongmin Ryu 11-5, 11-7, 13-11. The first two games were comfortable, but the third was a real fight. Ryu pushed Zaman all the way, and the game went past 11-all before Zaman closed it out 13-11 to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead.

Then Mohammad Asim Khan finished the job. He beat Seojin Oh 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 in a confident, controlled performance that never looked in danger. With the second match won, the tie was over at 2-0, and Pakistan were Asian champions.

The straight-games scoreline tells the story of the final. Pakistan did not lose a single game in the championship match. South Korea, who had beaten defending champions Malaysia in the semi-final, could not find a way past either Pakistani player.

The Road to the Final

Pakistan’s path to the title was almost perfect from start to finish.

The hosts began the tournament in Pool A, where they beat Uzbekistan 3-0 on 3 November and then beat South Korea 3-0 on 4 November. That second win is worth noting: Pakistan had already beaten the same Korean team they would later meet in the final, and they did it without losing a match.

In the semi-final on Friday, 6 November, Pakistan beat Hong Kong China 2-0 to reach the final. South Korea reached the final the hard way, beating defending champions Malaysia 2-1 in the other semi-final.

So by the time the two teams met again on Saturday, Pakistan had won every tie they had played, and South Korea had already shown they could beat the defending champions. The final, played at 3:00 pm on the glass court at the Mushaf Squash Complex, was a repeat of the pool-stage meeting, and the result was the same — only this time, the title was on the line.

The Pakistan team in the final was built around its two match-winners. Noor Zaman and Mohammad Asim Khan both played in the pool-stage win over Korea as well, and both repeated their winning form when it counted most.

A First Title in Ten Years

This is Pakistan’s 16th gold medal in the Asian Team Squash Championship, but the wait for this one has been long. It is the country’s first Asian team title since 2016 — a gap of ten years.

That gap matters because of what squash means in Pakistan. In the 1980s and 1990s, Pakistan was the dominant force in world squash. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, made Pakistan the country every other squash nation looked up to. For a generation of Pakistanis, squash was not a minor sport. It was the sport Pakistan ruled.

The years since have been harder. Other countries invested in coaching, facilities and junior programmes, and Pakistan’s grip on the sport loosened. A continental title at home, won in straight games in the final, is a reminder that the talent is still there.

Winning the 23rd edition of the championship also matters because of where it was won. This was not a title picked up on foreign courts. Pakistan won it in Islamabad, at the Mushaf Squash Complex, with home support behind the team. For the players, coaches and the Pakistan Squash Federation, which hosted the event, that makes the win sweeter.

What the Win Means for Pakistan Squash

A team title is different from an individual title. It says something about the depth of a country’s squash, not just about one star player. Pakistan needed two players to win on the same day, and both delivered.

For Noor Zaman, the final was a statement. He won the opening match of the tie, the one that sets the mood for everything that follows, and he held his nerve in a tight third game when his opponent was fighting to stay in the match. Winning the first match 3-0 gave his team-mate a cushion and gave the home crowd something to cheer.

For Mohammad Asim Khan, the final was about finishing the job. He walked on court with Pakistan one match from the title, and he did not let the moment overwhelm him. His 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 win over Seojin Oh was the most one-sided match of the final, and it sealed the championship.

The win also gives Pakistan squash something it has lacked in recent years: a clear, recent success to build on. Young players coming through the junior ranks now have a home-grown example of what is possible, and a title won in Islamabad is easier to believe in than one won far away. If the Pakistan Squash Federation can turn this moment into better coaching, more court time and more international exposure for its young players, the 2026 title could be the start of something rather than a one-off.

The tournament also showed that Pakistan can host a major continental event. The 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship brought teams from across Asia to Islamabad, and the event ran through pool matches, semi-finals and finals at the Mushaf Squash Complex without a hitch.

Hong Kong China Take the Women’s Title

While Pakistan celebrated in the men’s event, the women’s title went to Hong Kong China. They beat Malaysia 2-1 in the women’s final to become Asian champions.

Pakistan’s women’s team had a tougher tournament. They lost 3-0 to top seeds Hong Kong China in the pool stage, and the gap between Pakistan’s women’s team and the best in Asia remains clear. The men’s title will grab the headlines, but the women’s result is a reminder that building squash in Pakistan means building it for both men and women.

Why This Title Matters

Here is the simple version of why this win is important:

• It ends a ten-year wait. Pakistan’s last Asian team title came in 2016. A decade is a long time in sport.
• It was won at home. The team lifted the trophy in Islamabad, in front of Pakistani fans.
• It was dominant. Pakistan won the final 2-0 without dropping a game, and won every tie in the tournament.
• It was a team effort. Two different players won the two matches in the final, which shows depth, not just one star.
• It reconnects Pakistan with its squash history. The country that once ruled world squash is Asian champion again.

What Happens Next

The players will now return to the international circuit, where the challenge is to turn a continental team title into individual success at the highest level. The real test of this win will be whether Noor Zaman, Asim Khan and the players behind them can carry this form into major individual tournaments and keep Pakistan near the top of Asian squash.

For now, though, the celebration is deserved. Pakistan hosted the Asian Team Squash Championship, reached the final, and won it in straight games. After ten years without the title, Pakistan are Asian team squash champions again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 Asian Team Squash Championship?

Pakistan’s men’s team won the 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship, beating South Korea 2-0 in the final in Islamabad on 7 November 2026.

What were the scores in the final?

Noor Zaman beat Jeongmin Ryu 11-5, 11-7, 13-11, and Mohammad Asim Khan beat Seojin Oh 11-6, 11-5, 11-4. Pakistan won the tie 2-0.

Where was the championship played?

The tournament was played at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan.

When did Pakistan last win the Asian Team Squash Championship?

Pakistan’s last title before this one came in 2016. The 2026 win is the country’s 16th gold medal in the tournament’s history.

Who won the women’s title?

Hong Kong China won the women’s title, beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final.

Who did Pakistan beat in the semi-final?

Pakistan beat Hong Kong China 2-0 in the semi-final on 6 November 2026. South Korea reached the final by beating defending champions Malaysia 2-1.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s 2-0 win over South Korea in the final of the 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship is more than just another trophy. It is the country’s first Asian team title in ten years, its 16th overall, and it was won at home in Islamabad without dropping a game in the final.

Noor Zaman and Mohammad Asim Khan both won in straight games, and the team won every tie it played in the tournament. For a country with Pakistan’s squash history, that is a result worth celebrating — and, if the sport’s leaders use it well, a foundation to build on.

Sources

• Dawn, “Pakistan’s men down South Korea to win Asian Team Squash title”, 7 November 2026: https://www.dawn.com/news/2042864
• The Nation, “Pakistan clinch Asian Team Squash Championship title victory South Korea”, 7 November 2026: https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Nov-2026/pakistan-clinch-asian-team-squash-championship-title-victory-south-korea
• 24 News HD, “Pakistan crowned champions 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship”, 7 November 2026: https://www.24newshd.tv/07-Nov-2026/pakistan-crowned-champions-23rd-asian-team-squash-championship
• UrduPoint, “Pakistan men’s team becomes champions of Asia”, 7 November 2026: https://www.urdupoint.com/en/sports/pakistan-mens-team-becomes-champions-of-asia-2285878.html
• Minute Mirror, “Pakistan crush South Korea to lift Asian squash crown”, 7 November 2026: https://minutemirror.com.pk/pakistan-crush-south-korea-to-lift-asian-squash-crown-657764/

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.