Ali Sisters Become Pakistan’s Youngest Asian Games Athletes

Mahnoor Ali and Sehrish Ali have been selected to represent Pakistan in squash at the 20th Asian Games, making the sisters the youngest athletes in the entire Pakistani contingent heading to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Pakistan Squash Federation confirmed the selection in late July, calling it a proud moment for the nation. It is also, quietly, a statement about where Pakistani squash finds its next generation: inside one family, training together.

Two Sisters, One Squad

Mahnoor and Sehrish Ali will compete in squash at the Asian Games, held from 23 September to 2 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Being named as the youngest athletes in a national multi-sport contingent is not a minor detail. Every other sport, every other federation, put forward athletes older than these two. Squash’s selectors looked at the same pool of Pakistani talent and decided the future was ready now, not in four years.

What the Federation Said

The Pakistan Squash Federation credited a list of officials in its announcement, from PSF Secretary Amir Nawaz to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s sports ministry, alongside a name that carries weight in Pakistani squash beyond almost any other: Qamar Zaman.

Zaman is one of the sport’s own legends, a former World Open finalist from Pakistan’s golden era of squash dominance. His name attached to a federation announcement for two teenage sisters is not routine. It is the sport’s old guard signalling that these two are worth watching.

Squash’s Quiet Pattern of Producing Prodigies Young

Pakistan has a habit the rest of the world’s squash federations do not: producing world-class players who peak absurdly young, then stay there for a decade. Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan both built their dominance starting as teenagers. The Ali Sisters arrive at the Asian Games as part of that same lineage, if considerably earlier in their careers than a World Open final.

Squash also carries Pakistan’s most recent global breakthrough story: Sana Bahadur, the country’s deaf squash pioneer, won her first PSA title in August 2026. Pakistani squash, largely overlooked next to cricket, is having a genuinely good year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Ali Sisters? Mahnoor Ali and Sehrish Ali, two Pakistani squash players selected to represent Pakistan at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Why is their selection significant? They are the youngest athletes in Pakistan’s entire Asian Games contingent, across every sport.

When do the Asian Games take place? 23 September to 2 October 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Which sport do the Ali Sisters compete in? Squash.