Pakistan’s top squash player, Asim Khan, achieved a career milestone by winning his first PSA Tour World title at the Charlottesville Open. The 27-year-old made an impressive run to the final and secured a stunning comeback victory against England’s defending champion Nick Wall, winning the match 12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6.
Khan entered the tournament unseeded but demonstrated remarkable perseverance and skill throughout the competition. His journey to the title began with a dramatic first-round comeback, where he fought back from two games down to defeat Brazil’s Diego Gobbi. He then cruised through the semi-finals with a straight-set victory over Mexico’s Cesar Salazar, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4, to set up the final clash with Wall.
In the final, Khan initially dropped the first set in a nail-biting 14-12 contest. However, he rallied in the next three sets, showing composure and tactical brilliance to win his first major PSA title.
After the victory, an emotional Khan reflected on his journey, saying, “I didn’t expect any of this. I’ve been playing squash for the last few years, and I was struggling a lot, not winning any matches in big tournaments like this. So, this is something else, something big for me.”
Ranked 72nd in the world, Khan’s win at the Charlottesville Open, a PSA World Tour Copper event with a prize pool of $28,750, is a significant achievement for the Pakistani player. He expressed gratitude to his family and supporters, who stood by him during difficult times, and proudly hailed his country with a heartfelt “Pakistan zindabad.”
Khan is now looking ahead to future competitions, including the upcoming London Open in November, where he hopes to build on this breakthrough victory and climb further up the PSA world rankings. His triumph at Charlottesville is not only a personal victory but also a proud moment for Pakistan squash.
