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Today's Paper | December 01, 2024

Published 03 Jan, 2009 12:00am

Prolific Farhan stuns top seed Kashif to bag title: CAA Open Squash

KARACHI, Jan 2 Promising Farhan Zaman, a qualifier, gave awesome exhibition of power play imposing straight victory over top seed Kashif Khan in the final of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Open Squash Championship to land his maiden seniors domestic crown at PN Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex on Friday.

The 17-year-old Farhan of the Navy took 32 minutes to emerge 11-7, 13-11, 11-6 victorious against Sindh champion Kashif.

Farhan, a nephew of former British Open champion, Qamar Zaman, was in the best nick and crossed all hurdles one after the other ruthlessly to emerge eventual champion.

After winning the qualifiers, he whipped seventh seed Nousherwan in the first round, fourth seed Aurangzaib Mahmond in quarters and second seed Shaikh Saquib in the semis on course to making the final.

“I have prepared a lot for the event and was confident of starting the New Year on winning note,” a jubilant Farhan told Dawn after the final.

He has already shone in British juniors by landing the U-13 title in 2005 and U-15 in 2006 besides being member of Pakistan team that won the World Juniors Squash Team championship at Switzerland last year.

Farhan said he has overcome strong opponents in the main round and attributed his success to sheer hard work.

Kashif, 21, who has been to Malaysia last year where he lost in quarter-final in a Satellite circuit, applauded Farhan for playing better then him.

It was only in the second set when Farhan faced some resistance from his opponent who extended him to tie-break before surrendering 11-13. Farhan scored winners in the other two sets and his opponent was at his mercy.

Farhan received a winners cheque of Rs30,000 along with a glittering trophy from director general of the CAA, Air Commodore (retd) M. Junaid Ameen. Kashif earned runner up trophy and a purse of Rs19,500.

The final was witnessed among others by squash Legend Jahangir Khan and Base Commander PAF Base Faisal Air Commodore Mohammad Arif.

Final result

Farhan Zaman (PN) bt Kashif Khan (Sindh) 11-7, 13-11, 11-6.

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