Potential champ pulls out of Asian junior squash

ISLAMABAD: Potential champion Hamza Khan has pulled out of the Asian Junior Squash Championship starting in Thailand from June 15.

Hamza, the under-15 British Open champion is currently busy training in Dallas (USA) preparing for PSA events but more importantly getting ready for the World Juniors to be held in France from August 10-21.

The World Juniors will start with the individual title quest followed by the team event. With Hamza Khan, Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan likely to represent Pakistan in the individual as well as in the men’s team event, Pakistan have a strong chance of making the championship a memorable one both in the individual as well as in the team event.

The immediate challenge for Pakistan youngsters is the Asian individual title where Hamza was considered as a strong contender for the title. The youngster however has pulled out of the championship.

Earlier Hamza was expected to return to Pakistan in the first week of June but sources close to Hamza told ‘The News’ that the youngster had already communicated his decision to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) that he has planned to return to Pakistan in the later part of July.

“Hamza is totally concentrating on the World Juniors and is busy training with the leading players in Dallas. He will not be in a position to represent the country in the Asian Juniors to be held in Thailand. It would not be feasible to break his preparations in between. InshaAllah he will be in a position to win the world championship for the country following 36 years of unprecedented drought,” his father Niaz Khan when contacted said.

In a recent interview with ‘The News’ from Dallas, 16-year-old Hamza said he was keenly waiting for the World Junior Championship.

“I am keenly looking forward to the World Junior Championship where I am sure I can perform well and also confident to end the 36-year drought. All those players who can seriously challenge me including Egyptians were there in the US Open where ultimately, I have to compete against my countryman for the title.”

It was Jansher Khan who last won the world junior for the country in 1986. Since then, Pakistan has failed to produce a junior champion. Many came close to the title but none succeeded in ensuring coveted honours for the country.

Hamza has trained under the guidance of his uncle and former world No 12 Shahid Zaman in Boston ahead of the US Open.

Hamza Khan, Noor Zaman and Ashab Irfan were supposed to team up for the Asian Junior. Ashab has already pulled out of the championship on the pretext of his examinations. Now the only hope for the country is Noor Zaman and Ali Bokhari to earn laurels for the country from Asian Juniors.