Pakistani squash sensation Ashab Irfan won the Johns Creek Open title in the United States on Monday, overcoming Malaysia’s Nathan in an exciting final. After losing the first game, Irfan made a remarkable comeback, winning the match with scores of 8-11, 11-2, 11-2, and 11-6 in just 40 minutes. This victory marks his third Professional Squash Association (PSA) title of 2025.
The $12,000 Johns Creek Open showcased Irfan’s skill and resilience. In the semi-finals, he outplayed Brazil’s Diogo Gobbi 3-1 (11-7, 14-12, 4-11, 11-5) in 53 minutes. His quarterfinal was equally commanding, defeating Mexico’s Cesar Segundo 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-3). Irfan’s aggressive shot-making shone in the second round, where he dismantled USA’s Christopher Gordon 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-4) in a swift 20 minutes.
BREAKING: Pakistan's Ashab Irfan has won the $12K Johns Creek Open Squash beating Malaysia's Nathan Kueh 8-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6 in the final. pic.twitter.com/02z50CAa5V
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 18, 2025Fellow Pakistani Asim Khan, the top seed, reached the semi-finals but fell to Malaysia’s Nathan Chua 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9). Khan had earlier defeated Egypt’s Omar El Kattan 3-1 (10-12, 11-3, 11-3, 13-11) in the quarterfinals and Kareem Badawi 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8) in the second round. However, Pakistan’s Ahsan Ayaz and Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim exited earlier. Ayaz lost a five-game thriller to El Kattan (11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11), while Ibrahim was defeated by Gobbi 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6).
Irfan’s victory marks a significant achievement for Pakistani squash, reinforcing the country’s legacy in the sport. His ability to recover after a slow start in the final highlights his mental toughness and technical prowess, earning him praise across the global squash community.
