The Pakistan squash squad received a warm and rousing welcome at Islamabad International Airport today after returning home with a silver and two bronze medals from the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan. A large crowd of squash enthusiasts, families, fans and sports officials gathered to greet the medal-winning squad, celebrating one of Pakistan’s best squash campaigns in recent Asian Games history.
Key facts
- The haul: One silver medal (men’s team) and two bronze medals (men’s singles) — three squash medals in all for Pakistan at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
- The team silver: Pakistan lost the men’s team final 2-0 to Malaysia on 2 October at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena; the team comprised Nasir Iqbal, Muhammad Ashab Irfan, Asim Khan and Noor Zaman.
- The singles bronzes: Noor Zaman and Muhammad Ashab Irfan both reached the men’s singles semi-finals on 26 September — the first time two Pakistanis had done so since 2002 — then Zaman beat Irfan 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 13-11) in the third-place playoff.
- The homecoming: The squad was welcomed at Islamabad International Airport on 4 October, the closing day of the Games, with applause, cheers and national slogans.
- The federation’s response: The Pakistan Squash Federation thanked the fans and officials who turned up, and said the performance should inspire a new generation and give impetus to squash development in Pakistan.
How Pakistan squash won its three medals
The individual events (23–27 September) set the tone. Noor Zaman and Muhammad Ashab Irfan both stormed into the men’s singles semi-finals, guaranteeing Pakistan two podium finishes. Both lost their last-four ties 3-0 — Zaman to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow and Irfan to India’s Abhay Singh, who went on to take gold and silver respectively — before facing each other for the bronze: Zaman took the all-Pakistan third-place playoff 3-0 in 26 minutes.
The team event (28 September – 2 October) produced the headline result. Pakistan fought back from 1-0 down to beat Hong Kong 2-1 in the semi-final on 30 September — Muhammad Ashab Irfan levelled the tie and Nasir Iqbal won the decider — before running into a strong Malaysia in the gold-medal match. Ameeshenraj Chandaran defeated Nasir Iqbal 3-1 (8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4), and Ng Eain Yow edged Noor Zaman in a five-game thriller (11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5) to seal a 2-0 victory and leave Pakistan with the silver.
Medal summary
| Event | Medal | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s team (Nasir Iqbal, Muhammad Ashab Irfan, Asim Khan, Noor Zaman) | Silver | Lost 2-0 to Malaysia in the final on 2 October after beating Hong Kong 2-1 in the semi-final |
| Men’s singles — Noor Zaman | Bronze | Lost semi-final to Ng Eain Yow (MAS) 0-3; won the all-Pakistan third-place playoff 3-0 |
| Men’s singles — Muhammad Ashab Irfan | Bronze | Lost semi-final to Abhay Singh (IND) 0-3 |
Rousing welcome at Islamabad airport
The reception at Islamabad International Airport was befitting the achievement. Supporters greeted the returning players with enthusiastic applause, cheers and national slogans, and the visible pride of the crowd underlined how much the medal haul means to a country that dominated world squash for decades and is now fighting its way back.
The Pakistan Squash Federation extended its thanks to the fans, families and officials who came to the airport, describing the support as a morale booster for the squad. The federation said it hopes the Asian Games performance will give fresh impetus to squash development in Pakistan and inspire a new generation of players to take up the sport.
What it means for squash in Pakistan
Two Pakistanis in an Asian Games men’s singles semi-final for the first time in 24 years, and a first team silver in recent memory, suggest the country’s squash revival is gathering pace. The federation’s message at the airport was consistent: this is a platform, not a ceiling — and the hope is that investment and public interest now follow the medals home.
Conclusion
The triumphant return of Pakistan’s squash squad from Aichi-Nagoya 2026 closes a memorable campaign: a silver and two bronzes, a first all-Pakistan medal playoff in a generation, and a homecoming that showed how deeply the country still cares about the sport it once ruled. The warm reception at Islamabad International Airport was not just a celebration of three medals — it was an expression of hope that Pakistan squash is back on the rise.
