KARACHI: Noor Zaman kept Pakistan`s medal hopes alive as he breezed through to the semi-finals while compatriot Hamza Khan was ousted from a podium finish at the Under-23 World Squash Championships on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old put on a show for the home crowd in Creek Club`s sole glass court with an easy 11-7 win in the first game against France`s Melvil Scianimanico.

The Frenchman whofinished runner-up in last year`s European Junior Championship and reached the semis of the 2023 World Junior Championship almost won the second game but Noor snatched it from his grasp 11-9.

Home favourite Noor, seeded second, kept his cool against a visibly agitated Scianimanico to take the third game 11-8 and advance tothelast-fourstage.

`Squash is a lot about patience, and I think I had that all the way through, Noor told the crowd in hispost-match interview.

He remains unbeaten throughout the tournament, as does Malaysian ¾ seed Ameeshenraj Chandaran who he`ll be playing against in the semi-finals.

Chandaran had a fierce game against Hamza Khan in the first two games, winning 11-7, 11-9.

The crowd had swelled to a couple hundred people in the glass court arena to see Hamza play, cheering him on every point against the Malaysian who he defeated 11-7 in the third game.

Chandaran kept his head in the game to win the fourth game 11-6 against an angsty Hamza who threw his racquet on the floor after exiting the court.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Ammad thrashed Romania`s Radu Stefan Pena 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 in the consolation quarter-final. He`ll take on Spain`s Ernesto Revert Escutia on Wednesday in the semi-final.

In the women`s section, home hope Sana Bahadur fell against Yeheni Kuruppu of Sri Lanka in the consolation quarter-final clash that lasted 33 minutes.

Sana started strongly winning the first game 11-9, but the Sri Lankan got her revenge, clinching the next three games 11-7, 11-7, 11-3, to secure the semi-final spot.Malaysia`s Xin Ying Yee, seeded seventh, delivered the shock of the tournament when she beat second seed Egypt`s Malak Khafagy in a thrilling 65 minute match in the glass court.

Right from the first game, which Malak won 11-9, the duo collided and wrestled for control of the court.

Yee`s cool demeanour contrasted against a vociferous Malak to take the next two games 11-8, 11-9.

But the world no. 31 proved her worth when she stormed back to victory in the fourth game 11-7.

The fifth set was as heated in play as it was in words, earning both women a warning from the referee, who calmly dismissed interference from Malak`s coach.

At game and match point, a stroke decision was given in the Malaysian`s favour to bring an exciting match to a close and propel 21-year-old Xin into the semi-finals.

Top seed and world no. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt cruised into the last four with a 3-1 win over Hong Kong`s Tse Yee Lam Toby.

Her male compatriots demolished their opponents 3-0 as top seed Ibrahim Elkabbani downed Dutch Rowan Damming 3-0, while third seed Kareem El Torkey overpowered Switzerland`s David Bernet 3-1.