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Pakistani Girl Wins Squash Title In United States Back To Main

KARACHI: Maria Toor – Pakistan’s top female squash player – has created history by winning an international tournament in the United States.

Maria, who hails from South Waziristan, contested in the Liberty Bell Squash Championship in Berwyn as a qualifier but went on to win the event without dropping a single game.

Maria was in an explosive form during the entire course of the US$7000 tournament played from January 11-15 and toppled all the top three seeded players on her way to the title.

Maria issued a loud and clear warning when she stunned Japan’s top seed Misaki Kobayashi 11-5, 16-14, 11-7 in the quarterfinals of the tournament. In the semifinals, she prevailed over USA’s Olivia Blatchford in straight games before trouncing Canada’s second seed Miranda Ranieri in the final to clinch the title.

Later, Maria hailed Jonathon Power – Canada’s former world number one – for his help and guidance. Maria has been training under the supervision of Power – regarded among the finest squash players of the nineties.

It was a remarkable maiden tour title success for the 21-year-old from Peshawar who wrote to hundreds of squash clubs across North America offering to coach in exchange for the opportunity to train — in a bid to develop a career which she felt was getting little support in her home country.

Power immediately responded, offering support from his newly-launched National Squash Academy in Toronto. The former world number one and world champion not only obtained a visa for the former Pakistan women’s champion, but also found her accommodation.

“Once I saw her play, I knew what she could become,” said Power, North America’s most successful squash player of all-time.

Final: [Q] Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) bt [2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7