Hamza Khan celebrates becoming the first player from Pakistan since the legendary Jansher Khan 37 years ago to win the World Junior Squash Championships ©WSF

Hamza Khan became the first Pakistani winner of the men’s singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships in 37 years, while Egypt’s Amina Orfi defended her women’s singles crown in Melbourne.

It could have been an Egyptian double as Mohamed Zakaria took the first game against Khan only to succumb to a comeback at the Melbourne Sports Centres in the Australian city.

Zakaria would have become the youngest ever winner of the men’s singles crown at the age of 15 but 17-year-old Khan produced a fine recovery to take the title.

Khan produced a series of winners as he edged the second game before overpowering Zakaria to complete a 10-12, 14-12, 11-3, 11-6 triumph in 70 minutes.

Egypt’s Amina Orfi, left, and Pakistan's Hamza Khan, right, won the respective women's and men's singles titles in Melbourne ©WSF
Egypt’s Amina Orfi, left, and Pakistan's Hamza Khan, right, won the respective women's and men's singles titles in Melbourne ©WSF

It was Pakistan’s first victory in the event since Jansher Khan won the title in 1986.

Janser Khan went on to become one of the sport's greatest players, going on to win World Championships a record eight times and the British Open six times.

He was ranked number one in the world for a record 513 weeks from January 1988 until January 1998 and his longest unbeaten run of six years is the best in history, according to the Guinness World Records.

Rowan Damming of The Netherlands was the defending champion in the men’s singles but was stunned by Hollis Robertson of the United States in the last 16.

Robertson’s run was ended in the quarter-finals before eventual winner Hamza Khan and Zakaria defeated Egypt’s Salman Khalil and Melvil Scianimanico of France in the last four respectively.

The women’s semi-finals saw Aira Azman of Malaysia beat Egypt’s second seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Ofri down Malak Khafagy in an all-Egyptian tussle.

Azman was the first Malaysian woman to reach the final since Nicol David did so in 2001 but she came unstuck against top seed Orfi.

Egypt’s Amina Orfi retained her title at the World Junior Squash Championships in Melbourne ©WSF
Egypt’s Amina Orfi retained her title at the World Junior Squash Championships in Melbourne ©WSF

Having won the title in France last year at the age of just 15, Orfi was in no mood to surrender her crown.

After edging a tight opening game, Orfi proved too hot to handle for Azman as she triumphed 11-8, 11-5, 11-1 in 31 minutes.

"I feel so happy to have won this title for the second time," said Orfi.

"This one’s more important because it’s more difficult to retain your title and I’m so happy I managed to do that."

The event continues tomorrow with the start of the team competitions.