LAHORE - Pakistan’s only title hope Nasir Iqbal crashed out of the 21st Asian Individual Squash Championship, where he was beaten by Hong Kong’s Yip Tsz Fung in the semifinals at Mushaf Squash Complex on Saturday.
According to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) spokesman, the men and women events semifinals were played on Saturday. In the men’s event, the first semifinal was contested between Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow and Hong Kong’s Lau Tsz Kwan and after a tough good fight, Eain Yow emerged as victorious with the score being 11-4, 11-4, 11-9. In the second semifinal, Yip Tsz Fung of Hong Kong downed Nasir Iqbal with a game score of 11-6, 11-4 and 3-1 (retd) in 29 minutes.
In women’s event semifinals, Tong Tsz Wing of Hong Kong played well against compatriot Liu Tsz Ling with the score being 12-10, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 in 33 minutes whereas in the second semifinal, Rachel Mae Arnold of Malaysia defeated Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong with the score being 11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7 in 40 minutes. The women’s final would be played at 2:00 pm while men’s final to be played at 3:00 pm today (Sunday).
It may be mentioned here that the men’s event had a draw of 32 players whereas, the women’s event included 16 players’ draw. Apart from Pakistan, a group of international players, officials and referees from Hong Kong, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Sri Lanka were featuring in the championship. In men’s event, there were four players each from Hong Kong, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, six from Pakistan and two from Qatar whereas, in women’s event, there were four players each from Hong Kong and Malaysia while six from Pakistan and two from Sri Lanka.