In a spectacular display of skill and dominance, 11-year-old Mahnoor Ali clinched the Under-13 title at the HEAD Danish Junior Squash Open by defeating her sister Sehrish Ali in an all-Pakistan final. The young squash prodigy dominated the final match, winning in straight sets with a commanding 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 scoreline.
Mahnoor, ranked number 1 in Asia in the U-13 category, expressed her excitement in a post-match interview, calling it a significant achievement in her burgeoning career. “I’m very happy because this is a major tournament, it’s a big achievement for me,” she said. Despite facing her sister in the final, Mahnoor recognized the challenge. “Playing against my sister was tough. We both train the same, but whoever plays better, wins,” she added.
Sehrish, ranked number 12 in Asia, graciously accepted her defeat, attributing it to “bad luck” and vowing to come back stronger next time.
Mahnoor’s path to victory included defeating Bulgaria’s Bozhana Bozhilova 11-3, 11-4, 11-0 in the semi-finals, while Sehrish earned her spot in the final after a hard-fought win against Poland’s Hania Górecka with scores of 11-4, 16-14, 11-7. Mahnoor had also defeated Górecka earlier in the tournament, maintaining her unbeaten streak throughout the competition.
The young Ali sisters have consistently performed well on the international stage, having faced off in other finals before. This latest win marks Mahnoor’s sixth international title, adding to her growing list of accomplishments, including the U-13 crown at the PBA 20th Penang Malaysia Junior Open and the Australian Junior Open earlier this year.
Mahnoor thanked her sponsors, the BARD (Bilquis and Abdul Razzak Dawood) Foundation, for their continued support, saying, “I get to achieve this title because of them, and I hope they support me further.” The future certainly looks bright for both Mahnoor and her sister Sehrish, as they continue to elevate Pakistan’s reputation in the world of squash.
