KARACHI, Sept 3: At least four better-ranked players crashed out on the opening day of two-day qualifying round of the eighth CNS international squash championship at the PN Roshan-Jahangir Squash Complex on Monday.
Amjad Khan, ranked 107 in the world and nephew of Jansher Khan, retired after conceding two sets 3-11, 3-11 to 310 ranked Shoaib Hassan from Punjab as pain in his hip joint aggravated.
Shoaib has earned a spot in the qualifying round after winning pre-qualifiers on Sunday.
Besides, other three players who stepped in the qualifying round from preceding pre-qualifiers — Farhan Zaman, M. Naeem and Shehroze Khan —made their exit.
Similarly, Qamar Zaman’s maternal nephew Bilal Zaman, who is ranked 102, was sent packing by 376 ranked Kashif Khan who was home 11-8, 11-10, 11-2.
Safeerullah Khan, ranked 273, advanced after 97th ranked Khawaja Adil Maqbool who was trailing 2-6 in the first set retired due to diarrhoea.
The 307-ranked Ahmad Hameed got the better of 196 ranked Tariq Manzoor as the latter retired.
Joining the above four in the next stage are Yasir Butt, Arshad Iqbal Burki, Waqar Mehboob and Shamsul Islam Khan.
Four second round matches are on card for Tuesday and the winners will make it to the main draw.
Meanwhile, according to organising secretary Zahid Rauf, with the exception of three Egyptians, other foreign players who are in the main draw, have already arrived in the city.
Results: (Qualifying round)
Yasir Butt bt Aqib Hanif 11-3, 11-0, 11-9; Arshad Iqbal Burki bt Farhan Zaman 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-2; Safeerullah Khan bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (retd due to illness); M. Shoaib Hassan bt Amjad Khan 11-3, 11-3 (retd); Waqar Mahboob bt Jahanzeb Masood 11-8, 11-8, 11-7; Kashif Khan bt Bilal Zaman 11-8, 11-10, 11-2; Ahmad Hameed bt Tariq Manzoor (retd hurt); Shamsul Islam Khan bt Shahroze Khan 11-7, 11-6, 11-6.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Qualifying round matches (second stage) 12.00noon.
Yasir Butt v Arshad Iqbal Burki; Safeerullah Khan v M. Shoaib Hassan, Waqar Mehboob v Kashif Khan; Ahmad Hameed v Shamsul Islam Khan.
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