PETALING JAYA: National squash player Joachim Chuah’s spirited comeback fell just short as he lost a thrilling five-game battle to Pakistan’s Mohd Asim Khan in the World Championship Qualifiers final in Hong Kong yesterday.

The 21-year-old, seeded eighth, pushed second seed Asim to the limit before going down 11-3, 13-11, 9-11, 3-11, 12-10 in an 81-minute contest at the Hong Kong Football Club.