Squash: Home hopes rest on Carla Khan
Carla, who is based in England, was in a big rush as she blew a hapless Muqaddas Ashraf 9-2, 9-3, 9-0 after being on court for only 14 minutes.
Five other home players also fell without making any impression.
First Malaysia’s Lim Yoke Wah outplayed Misbah Rani 9-1, 9-2, 9-0 in a match that lasted barely 18 minutes, as she went marching into the quarters.
Then it was Ana Batool who was shown the door by another Malaysian Delia Arnold who registered a comfortable 9-0, 9-5, 9-1 win while Maria Toor put up an unimpressive display and was crushed 9-3, 9-4, 9-1 by Malaysia’s Tricia Chuah.
Saima Shaukat’s match was the shortest of the opening day. She was sent packing by Korean Lee Hai Kyung who won 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 in only 12 minutes.
Malaysia’s Sharon Wee then handed Sara Awan a straightforward 9- 0, 9-1, 9-1 defeat to Sara Awan that ended a disappointing day for the hosts.
But in Carla the home side have a player who is fully capable of winning this $7000 event which concludes on Sept 2.
In Wednesday’s quarterfinals she will play Englishwoman Jenna Gates who defeated Sally Looi of Malaysia 9-2, 9-5, 9-6 in less than half an hour.
In the second quarterfinal, Lim Yoke Wah will take on Delia Arnold with Tracia Chuah playing Line Hansen of Denmark, who edged Malaysian Siti Munirah Jusoh 9-1, 9-3, 9-4. Lee Hai Kyung will clash with Sharon Wee in the last quarterfinal of the day.
Meanwhile, officials of the POF Sports Control Board, the organisers of the tournament said on Tuesday that the cost of staging this event was about Rs 1.6 million.
Secretary of the board Javed Akbar told a press conference in Wah that it was an honour for them to be hosting this event.
“We have previously organised several national championships here and we hope to make this tournament a regular feature,” he said.
Pakistan squash secretary Wng Cdr. Zulfiqar Ahmed, who was also present on the occasion, however, made it clear that the event may be organised at some other venue in Pakistan next time.
Results (pre-quarterfinals): Carla Khan (Pak) bt Muqaddas Ashraf (Pak) 9-2, 9-3, 9-0, Jenna Gates (Eng) bt Sally Looi (Mas) 9-2, 9-5, 9-6, LIm Yoke Wah (Mas) bt Misbah Rani (Pak) 9-1, 9-2, 9-0, Delia Arnold (Mas) bt Ana Batool (Pak) 9-0, 9-5, 9-1, Tricia Chuah (Mas) bt Maria Toor (Pak) 9-3, 9-4, 9-1, Line Hansen (Den) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas) 9-1, 9-3, 9-4, Lee Hai Kyung (Kor) bt Saima Shukat (Pak) 9- 0, 9-2, 9-0, Sharon Wee (Mas) bt Sara Awan (Pak) 9-0, 9-1, 9-1.
Quarterfinals (Wednesday): Carla Khan (Pak) v Jenna Gates (Eng) at 2.00pm, Lim Yoke Wah (Mas) v Delia Arnold (Mas) at 2.45pm, Tricia Chuah (Mas) v Line Hansen (Den) at 3.30pm, Lee Hai Kyung (Kor) v Sharon Wee (Mas) at 4.15pm.