LAHORE - Top seeds on Tuesday reached the quarterfinals of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)International Squash Championships 2021 being played at the Mushaf Squash Complex.
In men’s event, Pakistan duoof Farhan Zaman and top seed Tayyab Aslam stormed into quarterfinals after defeating Muhammad Asim and Amaad Fareed respectively in close encounters. Farhan showed some excellent skills after losing third game against Muhammad Asim and then never allowed him to take advantage. Some powerful hitting also seen during the match won by Farhan with a score of 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8 and 11-2.
In the second pre-quarterfinal match, Amaad Fareed was unlucky to beat top seed Tayyab Alsam in the decisive game by leading 9-6 but two drop shots gave some energy to Tayyab as he came back in great style and won the final game 11-9. The thrilling match was played around 74 minutes to give many chances to Amaad Fareed as he was leading the first two games 11-8 and 11-5 but then Tayyab played their best game to fight back by winning continuously two games with 11-2 and 11-7 to equal the match by 2-2 games and then Tayyab won the match by 8-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-7 and 11-9.
In other matches, Pakistan’s Farhan Mehboob and Israr Ahmed also missed the opportunity to improve their international ranking by defeating their opponents but they failed to win their matches in the event. Farhan Mehboob faced defeat against Moustafa El Sirty of Egypt by 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13. Pakistan’s Israr Ahmed, who was former Asian junior champion, lost match against Karim El Hamamy of Egypt by 3-11,11-4, 2-11, 11-4, 11-6 in 47 minutes.
In other pre-quarterfinals, Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) beat Martin Svec (CZE) by 12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 11-5 (31 Min), Auguste Dussourd (FRA) beat Khaled Labib (EGY) by 15-13, 11-8, 11-7 (31 Min), Max Lee (HKG) beat Chi Him Wong (HKG) by 11-6, 11-8, 8-11,13-11 (42 Min) and Henry Leung (HKG) beat Hugo Varela (ESP) by 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (20 Min).
In women’s event, Pakistan’s Sadia Gul and Noorul Huda also entered the quarterfinals. Sadia stunned fourth seed Serbian Jelena Dutina, who was leading the fourth game by 8-3 but Sadia then started playing aggressive game, which helped her win fourth game by 12-10 to level the match by 2-2 and then Serbian Jelena failed to win the final game in the match as Sadia won the match by 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7. Noor ul Huda beat Komal Khan as she faces injury during the match resulting in not being able to continue the match. Noor ul Huda was declared match winner by 6-11, 11-8, 10-2.
In other women event’s matches, Nadia Pfister (SUI) beat Rushna Mehboob (PAK) by 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (17 Min), Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) beat Riffat Khan (PAK) by 11-2, 11-0, 11-4 (9 Min), Farah Momen (EGY) beat Nimra Aqeel (PAK) by 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (12 Min), Salma Eltayeb (EGY) beat (WC) Sana Bahader (PAK) by 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (13 Min), Nadeen Kotb (EGY) beat Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) by 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 3-11, 11-2 (41 Min) and Marie Stephan (FRA) beat Anam Mustafa Aziz (PAK) by 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 (18 Min). The quarterfinals of men and women events will be played on today (Wednesday).