LAHORE: Mehwish Ali, a 15-year-old rising star in the world of squash, has made the nation proud by winning a gold medal at the ‘Nordic Junior Open Squash Championship’ in Sweden.
In the final, Mehwish, an unseeded player, defeated France’s second seed, Ciara Boulanger, in straight sets with a score line of 11-5, 11-7, and 12-10.
Mehwish’s path to the title was marked by a series of commanding performances, beginning with her dominance in the group stages. Competing in Group D, she first swept past Norway’s Vilde Odeh with a convincing 3-0 victory, followed by another straight-set win (3-0) against Denmark’s Camilla Thomsen.
In the quarter-finals, Mehwish faced a challenging match against Belgium’s Alice Allard, where she emerged victorious in a tightly contested battle. With that win, she advanced to the semi-finals, where she overpowered Denmark’s Camilla Thomsen, securing her place in the final showdown against France’s Ciara Boulanger.
It may be added that the Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation has been an integral figure in Mehwish Ali’s success, providing immense support throughout her journey. Whether it was financial assistance for training, travel, and equipment, or emotional encouragement during critical moments, the foundation ensured that Mehwish had everything she needed to excel.
Abdul Razak Dawood, the founder of the foundation says, “As a foundation, we believe in empowering young talent and providing them with the resources to reach their full potential. Mehwish’s victory is a shining example of what can be achieved when passion is matched with the right support. We are incredibly proud to have been part of her journey to success.”
Mehwish sisters, Sehrish and Mahnoor, also put on impressive displays at the Nordic Junior Squash Open, securing fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
In addition to these admirable performances, Sehrish and Mahnoor faced off in the final of the U-13 category at the Nordic Junior Squash Open & PSA Championship 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. Sehrish emerged victorious, claiming the gold medal, while Mahnoor proudly secured the silver. Their achievements highlight the family’s exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
“Our goal is to help young athletes reach their full potential, and seeing their dreams come to life fills us with immense pride. Achievements like these, coming one after another, are truly exciting. This generation is not only realizing but also advancing the very purpose of this foundation,” says Mehreen Dawood.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024