Pakistan are the champions of Asia once again. The men’s squash team beat South Korea 2-0 in the final of the 23rd Asian Team Squash Championship 2026 at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad on Saturday, lifting the continental title on home soil and ending a ten-year wait for the crown.
Noor Zaman gave Pakistan the lead before Asim Khan sealed the title, and both men won their matches in straight games — Pakistan did not drop a single game in the final. The victory, played out on the glass court in front of a home crowd, is the biggest moment for Pakistan squash in a decade.
Noor Zaman and Asim Khan win in straight games
Noor Zaman opened the final against South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu and produced a commanding performance, winning 3-0 to put Pakistan ahead in the best-of-three tie. With the title one win away, Asim Khan then took on Seojin Oh and matched his team-mate, winning 3-0 to complete a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
The straight-games scoreline tells the story of the final. Pakistan were never behind in either match, and South Korea — who had beaten defending champions Malaysia in the semi-final — could find no way back once Zaman had given the hosts the lead. The third match of the tie was not needed.
Pakistan’s road to the final
Pakistan’s path to the title was built on a perfect run through the tournament. The hosts opened their campaign by beating Uzbekistan 3-0 on 3 November, then beat South Korea themselves 3-0 a day later to top Pool A without losing a tie.
The semi-final, played on Friday, brought a sterner test against Hong Kong China, but Pakistan again came through 2-0 to reach the final. South Korea earned their place in the title match by beating defending champions Malaysia 2-1 in the other semi-final — a result that opened the door for a new champion.
Six countries took part in the five-day championship, which ran from 3 to 7 November: Pakistan, Hong Kong China, Malaysia, South Korea, Iran and Uzbekistan, with 44 players competing at the Mushaf Squash Complex.
Hong Kong take the women’s title as Iran make history
Hong Kong China won the women’s championship, while the women’s event also produced a piece of history for Iran. The Iranian women’s team claimed their first-ever bronze medal at the Asian Team Squash Championships, beating hosts Pakistan 2-1 on Friday.
Pakistan’s women’s team had a difficult tournament, losing their pool ties to Hong Kong China and Malaysia before the defeat to Iran. The bronze was a landmark result for Iranian women’s squash, and it underlined how competitive the women’s game in Asia has become.
A first Asian team title in ten years
The 2026 title is Pakistan’s first Asian team championship since 2016, when the men’s team won in New Taipei City. Hong Kong won the title in 2018 with Pakistan finishing as runners-up, and Malaysia won in 2024, when Pakistan finished joint third — so this home victory ends a decade without the crown.
The win also carries extra meaning after the Asian Games final in Japan in October, where Pakistan lost the team final to Malaysia. A month later, with Malaysia beaten by South Korea in the semi-finals, Pakistan took their chance on home soil.
It is a result that reconnects the present team with Pakistan’s great squash tradition. The country produced two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen in Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, who dominated world squash through the 1980s and 1990s, and the 2026 champions will hope this title is the start of another strong era rather than a one-off.
What the win means for Pakistan squash
Winning a continental title at home, in front of an Islamabad crowd, matters beyond the trophy. It gives the Pakistan Squash Federation a showcase event to build on, and it gives a new generation of players — led by Noor Zaman and Asim Khan — a championship to their names.
The challenge now is to turn one title into a sustained return to the top of Asian squash. The next test will come when Pakistan defend the title at the next edition in 2028, but for now the team, and the home crowd that watched them win it, can celebrate a championship that had been ten years in the making.
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