Karachi
\nPakistan\u2019s squash sensation Noor Zaman gave former world champion Mohamed Elshorbagy a run for his money as he took the Englishman to five intense games at the Karachi Open quarterfinals before being defeated and ending Pakistan\u2019s streak at the international tournament.
\nNoor had a shaky start in the first game against the former world number one, who wowed the crowd with exceptional shots that the 21-year-old Pakistani couldn\u2019t keep up with, winning 11-2.
\nBut Noor had the advantage of a home crowd that was cheering him on for every handful of points he won, finding his footing in the second game that Elshorbagy took 11-8.
\nIt was in the third game that Noor finally found his momentum and defeated Elshorbagy 11-6 to stay in the running for a spot in the semifinals. He exited the court to \u201cshabash Noor!\u201d from the crowd of sports enthusiasts and former athletes in Creek Club\u2019s glass court.
\nNoor had begun loosening Elshorbagy\u2019s grip on what otherwise seemed like a sure-shot, three-game victory for the current world number four and tournament fourth seed.
\nThe two were neck-and-neck in the fourth game before Noor pulled ahead with some tactical shots just above the tin that stunned Elshorbagy. Karachi had turned up, albeit in a small crowd, to see world-class action, and the senior and junior world champions delivered on that expectation.
\nFists pumping, sweat drenching, his green T-shirt covered with his sponsors, Noor was in his element.
\nHis previous two games in the tournament went to five games as well, so Noor was no stranger to intense matches and spectacular comebacks.
\nThe fifth game was anyone\u2019s to win. Elshorbagy matched every point Noor took; Noor closed any lead Elshorbagy took. Noor pulled to 6-5 as the ball caught between Elshorbagy\u2019s racket and the wall, but the Englishman got his revenge as he won a superb rally that saw the two players staring each other down and exchanging pleasantries.
\nThe two kept surging neck-and-neck towards the finale before Elshorbagy shifted gears one last time and finished the game and match 11-9 as Noor slid to the floor but couldn\u2019t catch the ball quickly enough.
\nThe two hugged, and Elshorbagy seemed to be offering words of advice to Noor as the crowd gave the two a standing ovation all the way till Noor exited the court, and Elshorbagy stayed on for the commentator\u2019s questions.
\n\u201cI had heard of [Noor] and was told to watch out for him. I\u2019ve never played against him, but he got in front of me in the second game, and I had to watch out,\u201d Elshorbagy said.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been playing for a long time, I\u2019ve come through the juniors, played a lot of talented Pakistani players, but I\u2019ve never seen someone as focused as Noor; he\u2019s always watching and learning how to get better,\u201d he said as the crowd nodded in agreement and Noor watched on quietly from outside the court.
\n\u201dIt\u2019s great for Pakistan to have someone coming up, you guys need another world champion coming up soon since you\u2019re a squash nation, and it\u2019s very exciting for Pakistan to have Noor.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Karachi Pakistan\u2019s squash sensation Noor Zaman gave former world champion Mohamed Elshorbagy a run for his money as he took the Englishman to five intense games at the Karachi Open quarterfinals before being defeated and ending Pakistan\u2019s streak at the international tournament. Noor had a shaky start in the first game against the former world […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-524688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n