PESHAWAR: The qualifying rounds of the first FATA National Junior Squash Championship got underway here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Tuesday.
A total of 170 players turned up from across Pakistan by taking part in four different categories comprising Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17.
FATA Olympic Association President Shahid Khan Shinwari graced the occasion as chief guest and formally inaugurated the championship in the morning. Shinwari Welfare Organization Secretary-General Asad Khan, former World Champion Qamar Zaman, PAF Academy coaches, players and Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Chief Referee’s Munawar Zaman, Kamran Khan, Asghar Khan, Maqsood Hanif were also present.
The championship is a step forward toward the establishment of the FATA Squash Association under the supervision of PSF. Shahid Khan Shinwari lauded PSF President Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman for extending his support to the FATA Olympic Association and youth of the area.
Shahid Khan Shinwari on this occasion said that the developmental of sports infrastructure would be linked up with the ongoing rehabilitation work in progress under aegis Pakistan Army in various agencies.
He said the youth have suffered badly to bring those traumatized youth back to life again they are focusing on holding different sports activities with the help of Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs FATA.
Qamar Zaman assured of his available at any time as far as the promotion of squash in tribal areas is concerned.
Asad Khan disclosed that male players of FATA have won the bronze medal in the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Games. The championship is carrying a prize money of Rs 0.2 million.
In the Under-17 Adnan Wajid beat Rafi Ullah by 3-0, Subhan Ahmed of Punjab beat Hamza Aslam of Punjab by 3-1, Abu Bakar beat Uzair Khan by 3-0, Fafeez of Punjab beat Atif Malik of Punjab by 3-0, Obaid Ullah of Sindh beat Zargham Khan of KP by 3-0, Asad Ullah of PAF bat Waqas Amir by 3-0, Muhammad Owais Usman beat Usman Khan by 3-0, Arbab Mohammad beat Muhammad Feroz by 3-0, in the Under-15 event Fahad Sharif beat Javed Hussain by 3-0, Asad Afzal of Punjab beat Muhammad Din by 3-0, Saad Zubair beat Muhammad Miustafa by 3-0, Nouman beat Abas Bokhari of Punjab by 3-0 and Talha Iqbal beat Taimur Khan by 3-0.
In the Under-13 Ihtisham Ali beat Ahmad Javed by 3-0, Abu Zar Imtiaz beat Owais Ullah by 3-0, Muhammad Saleh beat Saboor Khan of Punjab by 3-0. In the Under-11 Ibrahim Zeb beat Muhammad Yaha Bilal by 3-1, Zalan Khan of Balochistan beat Shayan Khan by 3-0, Nabile Khan of Balochistan beat Saif Ullah by 3-0, Obaid Ullah beat Zikria Sher, Huraira beat Muhammad Azan by 3-0, Raja Sikander of Punjab beat Mubeen Ali.
