Noor Zaman stuns World No. 4 Karim Gawad in major upset

Pakistan’s Noor Zaman has produced a major upset at the Silicon Valley PSA Gold squash tournament in the United States, defeating defending champion and world No. 4 Karim Gawad of Egypt in an impressive performance.

Zaman secured a 3-1 victory over the Egyptian star in a match lasting 52 minutes, delivering one of the tournament’s biggest surprises and strengthening Pakistan’s presence on the international squash stage.

Gawad entered the contest as the defending champion and one of the leading players in the world, making Zaman’s victory a significant achievement. The Pakistani player’s success against such a highly ranked opponent highlights his ability to compete with the sport’s elite.

The result could also provide Zaman with valuable momentum as he continues his campaign at the prestigious PSA Gold event, which attracts leading players from around the world.

The Silicon Valley Open features a total prize purse of $143,500, making it an important competition on the Professional Squash Association circuit.

Zaman’s victory will be particularly encouraging for Pakistani squash, a sport in which the country has a rich history of producing world-class champions. His performance against Gawad offers another reminder that Pakistani players remain capable of challenging established names on the global stage.

However, Zaman was not the only Pakistani player in action at the tournament.

Fellow Pakistani squash player Ashab Irfan suffered a setback after losing 3-0 to Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy. The defeat ended his match on a disappointing note, while Zaman’s victory provided a contrasting outcome for Pakistan’s campaign.

With the competition continuing, attention will now turn to Zaman’s next challenge and whether he can build on his impressive win over the defending champion.

Beating a top-four player in a major PSA event is a notable achievement, and Zaman’s performance has given Pakistani squash fans fresh reason for optimism as the tournament progresses.