Pakistan’s squash sensation Noor Zaman gave former world champion Mohamed Elshorbagy a run for his money as he took the Englishman to five intense games at the Karachi Open quarterfinals before being defeated and ending Pakistan’s streak at the international tournament.
Noor had a shaky start in the first game against the former world number one, who wowed the crowd with exceptional shots that the 21-year-old Pakistani couldn’t keep up with, winning 11-2.
But Noor had the advantage of a home crowd that was cheering him on for every handful of points he won, finding his footing in the second game that Elshorbagy took 11-8.
It was in the third game that Noor finally found his momentum and defeated Elshorbagy 11-6 to stay in the running for a spot in the semifinals. He exited the court to “shabash Noor!” from the crowd of sports enthusiasts and former athletes in Creek Club’s glass court.
Noor had begun loosening Elshorbagy’s grip on what otherwise seemed like a sure-shot, three-game victory for the current world number four and tournament fourth seed.
The two were neck-and-neck in the fourth game before Noor pulled ahead with some tactical shots just above the tin that stunned Elshorbagy. Karachi had turned up, albeit in a small crowd, to see world-class action, and the senior and junior world champions delivered on that expectation.
Fists pumping, sweat drenching, his green T-shirt covered with his sponsors, Noor was in his element. His previous two games in the tournament went to five games as well, so Noor was no stranger to intense matches and spectacular comebacks.
The fifth game was anyone’s to win. Elshorbagy matched every point Noor took; Noor closed any lead Elshorbagy took. Noor pulled to 6-5 as the ball caught between Elshorbagy’s racket and the wall, but the Englishman got his revenge as he won a superb rally that saw the two players staring each other down and exchanging pleasantries.
The two kept surging neck-and-neck towards the finale before Elshorbagy shifted gears one last time and finished the game and match 11-9 as Noor slid to the floor but couldn’t catch the ball quickly enough.
The two hugged, and Elshorbagy seemed to be offering words of advice to Noor as the crowd gave the two a standing ovation all the way till Noor exited the court, and Elshorbagy stayed on for the commentator’s questions.
“I had heard of [Noor] and was told to watch out for him. I’ve never played against him, but he got in front of me in the second game, and I had to watch out,” Elshorbagy said.
“I’ve been playing for a long time, I’ve come through the juniors, played a lot of talented Pakistani players, but I’ve never seen someone as focused as Noor; he’s always watching and learning how to get better,” he said as the crowd nodded in agreement and Noor watched on quietly from outside the court.
”It’s great for Pakistan to have someone coming up, you guys need another world champion coming up soon since you’re a squash nation, and it’s very exciting for Pakistan to have Noor.”
