ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman on Friday received Pakistan’s victorious squad that returned from Poland here on Friday after participating in the World Team Junior Squash Championship.

Players Ayaz Ahsan, Israr Ahmed and Abbas Shoukat, accompanied by manager Qamar Zaman and coach Amjad Khan, were warmly felicitated at the PAF Nur Khan Air Base by the air chief, who is also president of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).

PSF vice-president Syed Razi-ul-Hassan Nawab, secretary Group Captain Aamir Nawaz and director retired Air Commodore Aftab Qureshi were also present on the occasion.

The Pakistan juniors stunned favourites Egypt 2-1 in the final on Wednesday to win their sixth title and the first after 2008.

Talking to reporters, Sohail said it was heartening that Pakistan juniors had made a great achievement after a gap of several years.

“This is not a small success; our junior players have made the entire nation proud and they deserve appreciation and encouragement,” he said.

Lauding the services of legends Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan and Qamar Zaman, Sohail said their guidance and support had helped the youngsters excel at the international level.

The PSF president said the members of the winning team would be given incentives and rewards.

He further said that the federation would hold three international events during the next three months. “These events will provide further exposure to our players,” Sohail added.

Coach Amjad Khan said it extremely satisfying that Pakistan had won the title under his guidance. “I knew our boys are highly talented and they can beat top seed Egyptians,” he said.

Sharing their sentiments, players Israr and Abbas said they had made the final with the thought that they would have to win the championship by all means.

“I had promised to myself that I would utilise all my energies to win the contest and thank God I emerged victorious,” Israr, who came out on top against Saadeldin Abouaish in the first match of the final, said.

“We’ll bring back the glorious period of Jahangir and Jansher,” vowed Abbas, who beat Marwan Tarek in the decider to help Pakistan reclaim the crown.

Our sports reporter from Lahore adds:

Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Israr’s employers, announced a cash award of Rs500,000 for him at a special ceremony arranged for their victorious player who arrived in Lahore from Islamabad on Friday.

On the occasion, Israr said his next major target was to make the world’s top 10 of the senior category.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016