Sohail targets World Junior Squash title after British Open U-13 triumph

BIRMINGHAM: Young Pakistani Squash sensation Sohail Adnan has said that it’s about time that the government and sports authorities in Pakistan should shift their focus more on squash from cricket.Adnan, 12, said this while speaking to Geo News. He hails from Bahawalpur and became the first Pakistani squash player to win the gold medal at the Junior Open Squash championship in the Under 13 category after a gap of 18 years.

He defeated top seed Egypt’s Moiz Tamir Al-Mughazi in a thrilling final which lasted for five games at the University of Birmingham’s sports centre. Speaking to Geo News soon after receiving the championship gold medal, Adnan said that though he was extremely happy with his achievement, his ultimate aim was to win for Pakistan and Allah has helped him in achieving that goal.

“I was leading after the first game but then my opponent made a strong comeback and went 2-1 up. At that time my coach and colleagues Varun and Sakhi really backed me up. The only thing on my mind was that it is all about the name of my country Pakistan and its green flag. So I really put my focus on the match and won it for my country.”

“My opponent was enjoying a huge crowd support which was also adding extra pressure. There were a few Pakistani supporters too who were fewer in numbers but didn’t back down at all in my support. It was fun and I really enjoyed that pressure situation,” he added further.

The final score of Adnan’s epic nail-biter was 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7 and 11-5. After winning the championship point Adnan didn’t hold his emotions back and celebrated the victory in emphatic style.

Slamming his racket in the court, with a fist bump in the air he took his shirt off and flung it in the air. The members of the small Pakistani contingent ran into the court and lifted him over their shoulders.

“It was a tough competition and I was under a lot of pressure. My opponent was top seed and the final was most of the time on the knife’s edge. I had already made an upset in the tournament by beating the 2nd seed in the semi-final so I was very excited. In the end, it was all about my country Pakistan so I decided that whatever the circumstances I can’t let this golden opportunity go by,” Adnan said.

He also said that he started playing squash when he was only five or six years old and the reason for that was his family has a passion for this sport.

“Many of my family members play this game. My father plays squash as well as my uncle and many other family members, in fact, I got into playing squash at a very early age too and now it’s been more than six years now since I first started. I spoke to my parents briefly after my victory and they are absolutely over the moon and celebrating my achievement.”

British junior open is the third title Adnan has won in the last one year or so. Earlier, he won Scottish Junior Open and before that, Asian Junior Open too. But now he’s eying the World Junior Squash Championship title which will take place in Cairo, Egypt in July-August 2025.

“Last one year has been absolutely amazing for me as I’ve won three junior titles but my next goal in coming month is first to win the US junior and then World junior too. Becoming a World Champion is my ultimate target and for that I will put all my efforts. For all these successes I’m extremely grateful of Allah Almighty who has blessed him with these achievements and Insha-Allah I will win many more titles for my country”.

Currently, Adnan is studying in eighth grade at a local school in his native city Bahawalpur, but for training, he has to travel to Lahore as there are not many squash training facilities in Bahawalpur. Responding to a question about the squash facilities, Adnan said that he will request Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the government to invest more in the squash.

“I’m trying my best to manage the balance between my studies and passion for squash. All I want to say is that in Pakistan cricket and few other sports enjoy huge support from everyone but not squash.” Adnan said.