LAHORE - Pakistan title hope Nasir Iqbal continued his good run in the 21st Asian Individual Men’s Squash Championship by defeating sixth seed Leung Chi Hin Henry of Hong Kong to make way to semifinals at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Friday.
According to PSF spokesman, Nasir is now the only title hope for Pakistan in the mega event after another local lad Tayyab Aslam lost his crucial match against Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong. Tayyab missed the easy opportunity to book berth in the semifinal as he was off to a flying start in the quarterfinal and won the first two games 11-5 and 11-9. Kwan then made a strong comeback and full dominated the next two games taking them 11-5, 11-3 to level the score at 2-2. He though faced tough resistance in the third game from the opponent, who held his nerves and won the decisive game 13-11 to enter the semifinals.
Meanwhile, promising Nasir Iqbal, currently ranked 78 in the world, showed his class and skills against Hong Kong’s Chi Henry and won the crucial match 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 in hard-fought 45 minutes. Nasir dominated the match right from the word go as he took the first two games 11-4 and 11-9 but then faced tough fight from the opponent from Hong Kong, who bounced back in style and won the third game 11-3. Nasir then started playing aggressive game which helped him put his opponent under pressure and take the match 11-7 to book berth in the semifinals.
In other quarterfinals of men’s event, Ng Eain Yow of Malaysia played superb squash against compatriot Mohammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Kamal and overpowered his opponent with the score being 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (36 minutes) while Yip Tsz Fung of Hong Kong also took only 23 minutes to outsmart Yuen Chee Wern of Malaysia with a score of 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 in 23 minutes.
In the women’s event, Liu Tsz Ling (HKG) beat Noor Ainaa (MAS) 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6 (35 minutes), Tong Tsz Wing (HKG) beat Aifa Binti Azman (MAS) 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 12-10 (50 minutes), Ho Tze Lok (HKG) beat Chan Yiwen (MAS) 11-5, 14-12, 11-9 (36 minutes) and Rachel Mae Arnold (MAS) beat Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (22 minutes).
Today (Saturday) in the men’s category, Ng Eain Yow will take on Lau Tsz Kwan in the first semifinal while Nasir Iqbal will compete against Yip Tsz Fung in the second semifinal. In the women’s category, the first semifinal will take place between Liu Tsz Ling and Tong Tsz Wing while Ho Tze Lok will vie against Rachel Mae Arnold in the second semifinal in women’s category.