ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Abdullah Nawaz beat Ong Sai Hung of Malaysia to qualify for the second round on the opening day of the Chief of the Air Staff-Serena Hotels International Squash Championship here at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Monday.

After Abdullah took the first game 11-1, Hung made a fine comeback to claim the second 11-9. The seesaw match turned in Abdullah’s favour when he bagged the third game 11-5 before his opponent made it 2-2 by pocketing the fourth game 11-9. Demonstrating better control, Abdullah seized the decisive game 11-6 to win the match that lasted 35 minutes.

Pakistan veteran and wild card entrant Farhan Mehboob took just 26 minutes to outplay Ireland’s Aaron Allpress 11-8, 11-6, 11-4. Farhan’s compatriot Tayyab Aslam defeated Ahmed Sherif of Egypt 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 in 33 minutes.

World number 62 Egypt’s Ibrahim Elkabbani who is the top seed, second seed Pakistan’s Noor Zaman, seasoned Nasir Iqbal and Ashab Irfan got byes to qualify for the next round.

Apart from nine Pakistan players 15 world-ranking contestants from Egypt, England, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia and the Netherlands are participating in the $15,000 event that concludes on Sunday.

Results (first round): Duncan Lee (Maalaysia) bt Wilson Chan (Hong Kong) 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 (21min); Tayyab Aslam (Pakistan) bt Ahmed Sherif (Egypt) 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 (33min); Hafiz Zhafri (Malaysia) bt (WC) Anas Ali Shah (Pak) 3-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (48min), Yasin Shodhy (Egypt) bt Heston Malik (England) 11-4, 11-7, 11-1 (21min); (WC) Abdullah Nawaz (Pakistan) bt Ong Sai Hung (Malaysia) 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 (35min); (WC) Farhan Mehboob (Pakistan) bt Aaron Allpress (Ireland) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (26min); Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait) bt Mohammad Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (25min); Hazem Hossam (Egypt) bt Sadam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 (32min)

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024