Pakistan finish with silver after Malaysia win Asian Games squash final

Pakistan’s men’s squash team will have to wait longer for another Asian Games gold after Malaysia defeated them 2-0 in Friday’s final at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

The defeat gave Pakistan another silver medal in the men’s team competition, following their runners-up finish at the previous Games in Hangzhou. Pakistan last won the event in 2010, when they defeated Malaysia in the final in Guangzhou.

Malaysia secured the title through victories by Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Eain Yow Ng. Chandaran put Malaysia ahead by beating Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal 3-1. Nasir took the opening game 11-8 after establishing an early 6-1 advantage.

The Malaysian, ranked 95th in the world, then changed the course of the match. He won the next three games 11-3, 11-6 and 11-4 to give Malaysia the opening point.

Noor Zaman was then left with the task of keeping Pakistan’s title hopes alive against Ng.

The two had met earlier in the Games, with Ng winning their singles semi-final before claiming the individual gold medal. Ng, ranked 18th in the world, took the first game 11-8, but Noor fought back to win the next two 11-6 and 11-7.

The Malaysian refused to let the match slip away. He dominated the fourth game 11-4 before producing another 11-4 victory in the decider to win the match 3-2 and seal Malaysia’s team gold.

Since Malaysia had already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, Pakistan’s third player, Mohammed Ashab Irfan, did not take the court. Pakistan’s silver was their second straight runners-up finish in the Asian Games men’s team event, while Malaysia successfully defended their title.