ISLAMABAD: Farhan Zaman, Pakistan’s main hope in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) International Squash Championship, could not come up to the expectations of local crowd and lost to Hong Kong’s Tsz Fung Yip in a quarter-final at the Mushaf Squash Complex here on Friday.

Both players played aggressively in the first game, which was ultimately won 11-9 by world number 50 Yip. In the second game, Nasir was three points ahead at 9-6 but could not maintain the lead and lost the game 13-11. Yip dominated the third game and crushed his Pakistani opponent 11-4. He thus won the match in 24 minutes.

Farhan was the centre of Pakistan line-up in the $25,000 prize-money competition in the absence of Nasir Iqbal. World number 46 Nasir is barred from taking part in international events because of doping charges.

Nasir had won the gold medal at the South Asian Games by defeating compatriot Farhan Zaman but after the final World Anti-Doping Agency got his samples and one of the samples turned out positive.

After the ouster of Zaman, all eyes are now on Tayyab Aslam, who moved into the semi-finals after defeating his compatriot Shahjahan Khan after a well-contested match that lasted for 61 minutes.

Both players played gave tough time to each other. The first game was won 11-8 by Tayyab comfortably, but in the very next game, Shahjahan made strong comeback and stunned the world no 71 Tayyab 11-7.

In the third game, both players exhibited quality game, which after a close contest was won by Tayyab 14-12. In the fourth game, Tayyab was looking more comfortable and well set, defeating his opponent 12-10.

Meanwhile, in another quarter-final, Malaysia’s Ivan Yuen caused a big upset when he defeated second seed Egypt’s Karim Al-Fathi in straight games.

World number 53 Ivan was too good for his senior rival world number 41 Fathi, outclassing him 11-8, 11-3 and 11-9 in 30 minutes.

Earlier, top seed of the tournament and world number 28, Egypt’s Omar Abdel Meguid in a one-sided match overcame promising Faraz Mohamamd, who the other day had caused a major upset by defeating seventh seed Egypt’s Mazen Gamal.

Faraz could not show much resistance against the top seed who outclassed him 11-4, 11-1 and 11-8 in just 15 minutes.

In the semi-finals, Omar Meguid will face Tayyab while Yip will be seen in action against Ivan.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016