Pakistani squash player Ashab Irfan clinched the Johns Creek Open title in the United States on Monday, overcoming a tough start to defeat Malaysia’s Nathan Chua in the final. The victory adds another milestone to his career, marking his third Professional Squash Association (PSA) title of 2025.
The final began with Ashab dropping the opening game 8-11, but the 22-year-old Pakistani quickly regrouped. Displaying resilience and aggressive shot-making, he dominated the next three games in quick succession, winning 11-2, 11-2, and 11-6. The contest lasted only 40 minutes, showcasing Irfan’s superior fitness and tactical play.
The Johns Creek Open carried a $12,000 prize purse and featured several international competitors. Ashab’s triumph capped a week of strong performances by Pakistani players, with compatriot Asim Khan also reaching the semi-finals.
On Sunday, Ashab advanced to the final after defeating Brazil’s Diogo Gobbi 3-1 in a hard-fought 53-minute battle. The match saw Irfan take control early with scores of 11-7 and 14-12, before dropping the third game 4-11. He recovered strongly in the fourth, sealing the match 11-5.
Meanwhile, top seed Asim Khan suffered a shock exit in the other semi-final, losing 3-1 to Malaysia’s Nathan Chua with game scores of 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, and 11-9.
Both Irfan and Asim had impressed earlier in the tournament. In the quarterfinals, Asim battled past Egypt’s Omar El Kattan 3-1 in a 46-minute contest, while Irfan comfortably outclassed Mexico’s Cesar Segundo 3-0. Their consistent performances had raised hopes of an all-Pakistani final, but Chua’s upset win over Asim set up the decisive clash against Irfan.
Earlier rounds also saw mixed fortunes for Pakistan. Asim defeated Egypt’s Kareem Badawi 3-1 in the second round, while Irfan produced one of the tournament’s most dominant displays, beating the USA’s Christopher Gordon in just 20 minutes (11-2, 11-4, 11-4). However, Pakistan’s Ahsan Ayaz and Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim exited early. Ayaz fell in a five-game thriller to El Kattan, while Huzaifa lost in the round of 16 to Brazil’s Gobbi.
Ashab’s Johns Creek Open triumph reinforces Pakistan’s growing presence in international squash and highlights the country’s promising young talent. With three PSA titles already this year, Irfan’s form signals his potential to climb further up the world rankings.
