Nauman to face defending Champion in World Junior Squash pre-quarterfinal

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2026) Pakistan's Nauman Khan will face top seed and defending champion Muhammad Zakria of Egypt in the pre-quarterfinals of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships 2026 after emerging as the country's sole survivor in the boys' individual event at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.

According to information made available here by Pakistan Squash Federation, Nauman secured his place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over England's Gabriel Chak in the Round of 32. After winning the opening game 11-9 and dropping the second 9-11, the Pakistani player regained control to claim the next two games 11-6 and 13-11.

Muhammad Umair Arif, seeded 25/32, exited the championship after suffering a 3-0 defeat to France's Amir Khaled Jousselin. The French player won 11-1, 11-3 and 11-2.

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Yahya Khan also bowed out after losing 3-0 to Egypt's Seifeldin Rafaay. Despite a spirited effort in the third game, he went down with game scores of 11-3, 11-2 and 11-3.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Nawaz, seeded 13/16, was eliminated by the United States' Barendan Tagliarini in a 3-1 contest. Abdullah won the opening game 11-5 before his opponent fought back to take the next three games 11-3, 11-8 and 11-6.

Nauman will now take on Egypt's Muhammad Zakria, the tournament's top seed and defending world junior champion in the pre-quarterfinal scheduled for Thursday. The match will be played on the Glass Court at White Oaks Resort.

Pakistan's hopes in the boys' individual event now rest on Nauman Khan as he looks to upset the defending champion and book a place in the quarterfinals.