Ashab Irfan bags Mile High 360 Classic title after win over fellow countryman

KARACHI: Pakistani squash player Ashab Irfan has won the Mile High 360 Classic squash tournament in Denver, United States after victory over his fellow countryman Asim Khan.

The final went to five games with both players showcasing remarkable grit. However, Ashab overcame Asim in the 112-minute battle to claim the titile.

In the first game, Ashab came out strong, narrowly winning 15-13 after several intense rallies. However, Asim fought back in the second game, adjusting his tactics to level the score via an 11-8 win.

Asim kept the pressure on in the third game, taking it 11-9 with sharp play, putting him ahead. But Ashab wasn’t ready to give up. He regrouped in the fourth game, winning 11-8 to force a fifth and final game.

The deciding game was tight, but Ashab managed to edge Asim 11-9, claiming the $15,000 championship, with a final score of 15-13, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, and 11-9.

Today's final comes after both the players qualified for the final after securing victory in their respective matches a day earlier.

Asim won against fellow Pakistani Noor Zaman, whereas Ashab cruised to a 3-0 victory over England’s third-seeded Tom Walsh, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 in 46 minutes.

Earlier in the tournament, Asim faced a challenging quarter-final against second-seed Cesar Salazar of Mexico. After taking a 2-1 lead, Salazar retired in the fourth game, handing Khan victory with a final scoreline of 12-10, 2-11, 11-7, and 11-0.

Furthermore, he also defeated India's Veer Chotrani and produced a strong showing against Dillon Huang of the United States.