ISLAMABAD: On the opening day of the Pakistan International Squash Tournament, emerging player Naveed Rehman tamed Owais Rashid after a thrilling five-game contest here at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Monday.

Junior Pakistan international Hamza Sharif, in his first outing as a senior, also registered a 3-1 victory against a more experienced Noman Khan. Hamza, who hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Noman 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 7-2.

Earlier, another youngster Naveed Rehman beat Owais Rashid 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9. Mohammad Bilal too had to go through the grind for his victory against junior player Farhan Hashmi. After five-games which lasted 49 minutes Bilal beat Farhan 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8. In another match, Zahir Shah beat Saad Abdullah 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5.

Meanwhile, other ranking players, courtesy byes, moved into the next round on the basis of their ranking.

Results:

Men’s event: Hamza Sharif bt Noman Khan 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 7-2; Tariq Khan bt Faisal Riaz 11-2, 11-6, 11-9; Mohammad Bilal bt Mohammad Farhan Hashmi 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8; Zahir Shah bt Saad Abdullah 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5; Naveed Rehman bt Owais Rashid 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9; Waqas Mehboob bt Mehran Javed 11-6, 11-8, 11-8; Haris Qasim bt Mohammad Farhan 11-6, 11-3, 11-3, Danish Atlas Khan bt Noor Zaman 11-3, 11-2, 11-2.

Women’s event: Zaynab Khan bt Sibgha Arshad 11-8, 11-4, 11-5; Aiman Shahbaz bt Sulaya Chaudry11-7, 11-4, 11-8; Fehmina Asim bt Shafaq Chaudry 11-1, 11-3, 11-6; Komal Khan bt Zoya Khalid 11-5, 12-10, 11-5; Nimra Aqeel bt Tehreema Islam 11-8, 11-6, 11-9; Hira Aqeel bt Ilsr Imran 11-2, 11-2, 11-1; Noor Ul Ain Ijaz bt Sana Bahadur 11-8, 11-6, 11-4.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2019