PSF-COMBAXX International: Iqbal Defends Title In Islamabad

362 days after claiming his last Tour title at this very event, Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal successfully defended his crown at the PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament, defeating compatriot Noor Zaman in the final of the Challenger 10 level competition.

The Pakistani, who has been as high as World No.35 in the past, came into the tournament as the No.4 seed, and as one of the favourites to go all the way in the competition, especially after winning the event in 2021.

After receiving a bye through the opening round, the 28-year-old got his campaign underway at the Mushaf Squash Complex with a confident performance to overcome compatriot Salman Saleem in straight games. He then defeated No.8 seed Hamza Khan in a four game battle to make it through to the semi-finals.

Iqbal then came up against Egypt’s Abdallah Elmasry in the last four, with the unseeded Egyptian having already taken out the tournament’s top seed. Iqbal also had problems with him, having to go all the way to five after Elmasry came from behind twice in the match. However, the Pakistani made his way into the final after winning the fifth and final game 11-7 in a quick-fire 48-minute contest.

The final saw Iqbal take on Noor Zaman, another Pakistani, and one who had featured for his country at the WSF World Junior Championships the week previously in Nancy, France. The final was comfortable for the 28-year-old Iqbal, who claimed the win in straight games, to defend his PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament crown, and claim the 13th victory of his Tour career.

Results: PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament

Final
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [2] Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)

Semi-Finals
[2] Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [7] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10 (50m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7 (48m)

Quarter Finals
[2] Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [5] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 3-1: 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 (32m)
[7] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) 3-1: 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 14-12 (60m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [8] Hamza Khan (PAK) 3-1: 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 (45m)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) bt [6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 (36m)

Round Two
[2] Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8 rtd (19m)
[5] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [WC] Muhammad Ammad (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)
[7] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt Naveed Rehman (PAK) 3-1: 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (45m)
Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt [3] Alireza Shameli (IRI) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Salman Saleem (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 (29m)
[8] Hamza Khan (PAK) bt Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) 3-2:5-11, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (42m)
[6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (24m)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) bt [1] Khaled Labib (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (28m)

Round One
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt [WC] Moeen Ud Din (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (13m)
[WC] Muhammad Ammad (PAK) bt Wee Ming Hock (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 (22m)
Naveed Rehman (PAK) bt Saeed Abdul (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8 (45m)
Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt Zeeshan Zeb (PAK) 3-2: 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (59m)
Salman Saleem (PAK) bt Abdelrahman Nassar (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) bt Duncan Lee (MAS) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
Zahir Shah (PAK) bt [WC] Talha Saeed (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (14m)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) bt Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (21m)