ISLAMABAD - Nasir Iqbal continued his brilliant run in the $10,000 Emerson RCP Series 2014 Squash Championship, currently underway in St Louis, USA, as the Pakistan number 1 squash player disposed off third seed Mexican Arturo Salazar 3-0 in just 30 minutes in the semifinals played on Saturday.
While talking exclusively with The Nation on Saturday a delighted Nasir said the match proved against his expectations as Salazar was finding it too hot to handle his speed and powerful drop shots.
The first game started at a very high tempo. It was Salazar who settled down early in the first game and raced to a 4-0 lead. Nasir responded in style to wrap up the game 11-7 in 13 minutes. The second game was a see saw battle, as both players fought for each and every point. The game kept on swinging from one way to another and score was leveled at 9-9. Nasir upped the tempo of his game to seal the game 11-9.
After playing two back-to-back tough games, Salazar finally rain out of steam and was hardly able to move freely and third game also proved a one-sided affair as Nasir romed to victory by clinching this game 11-5. He will face second seed Raphael Kandra of Germany in the final.
“I am just one step away from clinching the prestigious event and that too in my very first appearance. I will play out my heart and try to lift the tile for the people of my beloved country. I need prayers and well wishes. I will try not to disappoint my head coach Jamshed Gul and federation and would return with the coveted trophy,” a confident Nasir concluded.