The 9th edition of the National Bank Junior Squash Championship entered into final stages when players from the various age groups categories secured victories against their respective rivals in the semi-final of the Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Girls Under-13 and Under-15 took berth into the finals.
It was the Under-11 category when Abdullah Nawaz, the top seeded players setup final showdown against Mobeen Khan. Abdullah Nawaz defeated Ibrahim Zeb by 3-0, the score was 11-3, 13-11 and 11-4 and Mobeen Khan beat Umair Arif in straight sets, the score was 11-2, 11-1 and 11-1 in a one-sided affair.
In the Under-13 category top seed Humam Ahmad of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded victory against Muhammad Hanif of PAF Academy in straight sets, the score was 11-7, 11-8 and 11-5 while second seed Yaseen Khattak of PAF Academy beat Saki Ullah, also from PAF Academy in straight sets, the score was 11-1, 11-9 and 11-3. Both move to the final of the Under-13 category with their victories.
In the Under-15 category Abbas Nawaz of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced tough resistance against Waleed Khalil of PAF in a marathon five sets battle lasted for 48th minutes.
Abbas Nawaz lost the first set 5-11 but he came back strong by saving two sets points in the second and won the set by 13-11. It was the third set when Abbas lost to Khalil at 6-11 and in the third and fourth set he again staged a comeback and marched up to victory at 11-7 and 11-7.
In the second semi-final Afaq Khan beat Huzaifa Zahid by 3-1, the score was 11-4, 1-11, 13-11 and 11-6 and moved to the final against Abbas Nawaz. In the Under-17 category semi-finals Hamza Sharif, the top seeded player and current national champion from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upset Muhammad Saqib Iqbal by 3-1, the score was 10-12, 11-5, 13-11 and 11-6.
In the second semi-final Noor Zaman beat Rashid Doulat by 3-1, the score was 11-3, 4-11, 11-7 and 12-10.
In the girls Under-13 Sana and Maira reached the final after securing victories against their respective rivals.
Sana defeated Mehvish by 3-0 and Maira beat Lubna by 3-0. In the Under-15 Hira and Nimra Aqeel reached to the finals. Hira beat Laiba Ahmad by 3-1 and Nimra beat Zohya by 3-0.
