Asim Completes Stunning Quarter-Final Upset
Pakistan’s Asim Khan produced the biggest upset of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship by defeating top seed Noor Zaman in Karachi.
The all-Pakistan quarter-final was played at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex on Sunday.
Noor made the stronger start and secured the opening game 11-9. Asim responded immediately and won a competitive second game by the same score.
The eighth seed then took complete control of the match. He dominated the third game 11-1 and placed the tournament favourite under sustained pressure.
Asim was leading 8-3 in the fourth game when Noor retired from the contest. The match ended after 56 minutes, sending Asim into the final four.
The result ended Noor’s title campaign after he had entered the tournament as its highest-seeded player.
Noor had reached the quarter-finals without dropping a game against Brazil’s Diego Gobbi. Asim had qualified after recovering from an opening-game defeat to beat Hong Kong’s Matthew Lai 3-1.
Asim’s victory strengthens Pakistan’s hopes of securing the title on home courts. He will now face Egyptian third seed Salman Khalil in the semi-finals.
Nasir Iqbal Survives Hamza Khan Fightback
Experienced Pakistani player Nasir Iqbal also booked his place in the semi-finals after defeating compatriot Hamza Khan in a five-game contest.
Nasir opened strongly and won the first game 11-5. He then edged a close second game 12-10 to move within one game of victory.
Hamza refused to surrender.
The former world junior champion claimed the third game 11-8 and won the fourth 11-9, forcing the quarter-final into a deciding game.
Nasir regained control at the crucial moment. He won the final game 11-5 and completed a 3-2 victory after 52 minutes.
The match demonstrated the strength of Pakistan’s remaining players. Hamza had reached the last eight after defeating Swiss fourth seed David Bernet in a demanding 70-minute match.
Nasir had advanced more comfortably in the previous round by beating Egypt’s Yassin Shohdy in straight games.
Nasir will face Egyptian seventh seed Yassin Elshafei for a place in the championship match.
Pakistan-Egypt Semi-Finals Set for Monday
Egypt’s Salman Khalil reached the semi-finals after defeating compatriot Mohamed Nasser in straight games.
Khalil won 11-5, 11-5 and 13-11 in 42 minutes.
Yassin Elshafei completed the semi-final line-up by overcoming fellow Egyptian Aly Tolba in five games.
Elshafei won the opening game 11-4 before Tolba responded by taking the next two. The seventh seed then recovered to win the fourth and fifth games, completing an 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 victory.
Monday’s first semi-final will feature Asim Khan against Salman Khalil.
Nasir Iqbal will meet Yassin Elshafei in the second contest.
The results create two Pakistan-Egypt battles. They also leave open the possibility of an all-Pakistan final if Asim and Nasir both win.
The PN Fleet Club Open carries prize money of $41,000 and is classified as a PSA Challenger Tour 30 event. The tournament began on July 31 and will conclude with the final on Tuesday, August 4.
Pakistan will now look to convert its strong home performance into a place in the title match.
