Sohail Adnan clinches under-13 title at Scottish Junior Open Championship

Pakistan's young squash sensation, Sohail Adnan, achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the Under-13 category title at the prestigious Scottish Junior Open Championship held in Edinburgh. 

Sohail secured the victory dominantly, defeating Spain's Atzel Riguerio Garcia in the final with a convincing 3-0 scoreline.

Sohail’s commanding 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 victory highlighted his technical prowess and strategic play.

The championship, which features players from 22 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Egypt, and the United States, witnessed intense competition. 

Sohail's stellar performance not only brought glory to Pakistan but also established him as a promising talent in the global squash arena.

Following his success in Edinburgh, Sohail is set to compete in the British Junior Open World Junior Squash Championship. 

The event will be held from January 2 to January 6, 2025, in Birmingham, where Sohail aims to continue his winning streak on an even bigger stage.

The Punjab Squash Association (PSA) extended heartfelt congratulations to Sohail for his outstanding achievement. 

Senior Vice President Muhammad Mansoor lauded Sohail for making Pakistan proud, attributing the victory to his hard work and the unwavering support of his parents and the association. 

PSA Director Mamoon Khan echoed similar sentiments, stating, "Sohail Adnan’s win is a win for Pakistan. We hope he and other players will continue to bring laurels to the country."

Meanwhile, Huzaifa Shahid demonstrated great nerve control in the Boys' U15 final, engaging in a five-game contest against Singapore’s Rehaan Singh. Despite losing two closely contested games, Huzaifa held his nerve to emerge victorious with scores of 11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 11-13, and 11-7.

Azan Khan continued Pakistan’s dominance in the Boys' U17 category, overcoming Switzerland’s Leandro Vogel in another interesting encounter. He maintained control to seal the title with an 11-9, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6 victory.

In the Girls' U13 final, Mahnoor Ali was in top form as she defeated India’s Divyanshi Jain in straight games. Mahnoor’s confident performance, in an 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 victory, highlighted her potential as a rising star in Pakistan’s squash circuit.

Sakhi Khan Tareen secured third place in the Boys' U19 category after receiving a walkover against New Zealand’s Freddie Jameson.

In the Girls' U15 category, Sehrish Ali claimed third place by defeating England’s Karen Mills in four games. Sehrish’s focused gameplay and consistent shot selection earned her an 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 victory, ensuring a podium finish.

Mehwish Ali earned third place in the Girls' U17 category, recovering from a slow start to defeat Eloise Levin. After dropping the opening game, Mehwish fought back to win 4-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4.

Experts believe that four titles and three podium finishes at the Scottish Junior Open highlight the country’s young talent pool in squash which needs to be developed properly.