LAHORE - Pakistani players dominated the second round of the FMC International Men Squash Championship 2018 here at the Punjab Squash Complex on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Asim Khan, Tayyab Aslam, Farhan Mehboob and Israr Ahmad displayed outstanding squash skills and defeated their respective opponents to qualify for the quarterfinals of the prestigious event.  In the first match of the second round, Asim Khan of Pakistan outlasted compatriot Amaad Fareed with utmost ease as he won the encounter in just 30 minutes by 11/2, 11/5, 11/5. Asim dominated right from the beginning and won the first game 11/2. He kept on putting his opponent under pressure and took the second game 11/5 and third with same margin of 11/5 to register victory.

Pakistan's Tayyab Aslam then routed Hong Kong's Chi Him Wong by 11/5, 11/1, retired hurt. Tayyab was in superb form and played aggressive game right from the word it goes, as he won the first game 11/5 and took the second quite easily by 11/1. His opponent felt the heat and preferred to retire hurt instead of continuing the game. Farhan Mehboob of Pakistan also played well against Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau and overpower him by 11/7, 12/10, 11/7 in just 26 minutes. Mehboob was off to flying start against his opponent and dominated well to win the first game 11/7. Although the Pakistani faced tough resistance in the second game yet he managed to win it by 12/10 while in the third and last game, Mehboob outpaced the Hong Kong player to take the game 11/7 and registered a convincing victory.

Pakistan’s Israr Ahmad had a tough battle against Malaysia’s Muhammad Syafiq Kamal before winning the marathon 40-minute match by 11/6, 10/12, 11/8, 11/6. Israr won the first game 11/6 but lost the second 10/12 after a tough battle. He then started playing aggressive game, which paid dividend and helped him win the third game 11/8 and fourth 11/6 to emerge as triumphant.

Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bukhari of Pakistan lost his match against Malaysian Ivan Yuen by 11/7, 11/2, 11/8 in 26 minutes. Egyptian Mazan Gamal defeated Henry Leung of Hong Kong by 11/7, 11/9, 12/10 in 39 minutes while another Egyptian Youssef Soliman outlasted Robert Downer of England by 11/9, 11/9, 12/10 in 37 minutes. In the last match of the day, French Auguste Dussourd took 57 minutes to beat Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong by 13/11, 2/11, 13/11, 3/11, 11/9 after a tough fight.

Punjab Squash Association (PSA) President Dr Nadeem Mukhtar, Secretary Sheraz Saleem, Treasurer Tariq Siddique Malik, Vice President Tariq Farooq Rana, Tournament Referee Tahir Khanzada, players, their families and a great number of squash lovers were present on the occasion and witnessed the enthralling encounters of second round.

The quarterfinals of the international squash events will be played in the four-glass court here at a local hotel today (Wednesday). The officials of Pakistan Squash Federation and Punjab Squash Association expressed their hope that Pakistani players will produce good results in next rounds and try to clinch the championship trophy.