LAHORE – Pakistan enjoyed a double dose of success at the World Games Chengdu 2025 on Saturday, as cueist Muhammad Asif and squash star Nasir Iqbal produced commanding performances to keep the national flag flying high.
In the billiards event, Muhammad Asif outclassed China’s Liang Xiaolong 2-0 in a Group B clash at the state-of-the-art Civil Aviation Flight University of China Tianfu Campus Gymnasium. Facing a partisan crowd roaring for the home favourite, Asif displayed nerves of steel and a masterclass in tactical precision.
From the opening shot, the Pakistani champion dictated the pace, executing pinpoint potting and flawless positioning to dismantle Liang’s challenge in straight frames. “This win means a lot to me,” M Asif said after the match. “I am happy with my performance and hope to keep this momentum going.”
Meanwhile, in the squash court, Nasir Iqbal was in ruthless form, dismantling Romania’s Radu Pena 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-2) in just 22 minutes to storm into the plate semifinals. From the very first serve, Nasir’s precision, agility, and shot variety left his opponent chasing shadows.
The victory marks a strong resurgence for Nasir, who bounced back impressively after an early exit in the main draw’s Round of 32. Remarkably, he has conceded just 14 points across his last two matches in the plate event.