30/04/2007
NWFP PESHAWAR INT
Mansoor Comeback to challenge for top Pakistani spot
TOURNAMENT:
Governor NWFP Squash International, Peshawar, Pakistan
RESULTS:
1st round:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Majid Khan (PAK) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7
[6] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[3] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Waqar Mehboob (PAK) 11-10 (2-0), 11-6, 6-11, 11-4
[8] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [Q] Amjad Khan (PAK) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
[7] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4
[4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Sherif Kamel (EGY) 9-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-6, 11-5
[Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt [5] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-10 (2-0), 11-4,
11-6
[2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Quarter-finals:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [6] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
[3] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt [8] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
[4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [7] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 5-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7,
11-5
[2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
Semi-finals:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [3] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (21m)
[2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5
(33m)
Final:
[2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (38m)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUALIFYING
Qualifying finals:
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Naveed Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-6, 10-11 (0-2), 11-4,
11-7
Amjad Khan (PAK) bt Safeer Ullah Khan (PAK) 6-11, 7-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-7,
11-9
Majid Khan (PAK) bt Bilal Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) bt Khayal Muhammad Khan (PAK) 11-3, 11-10 (2-0),
9-7 ret.
REPORTS
FINAL
Zaman wins to challenge Aamir for top spot in Pakistan
Mansoor Zaman, whose recent form saw him lose his status as Pakistan's No1
squash player, powerfully restated his claim on the title when he defeated
his successor Aamir Atlas Khan in straight games in the final of the
Governor NWFP International in the pair's hometown of Peshawar.
The pair last met in the first round of the Kuala Lumpur Open in Malaysia in
March when eighth seed Zaman crashed out in straight games to his
16-year-old compatriot.
But the 27-year-old former world No11 was after revenge in the climax of the
$25,000 PSA Tour event at the Hashim Khan Complex - and took just 38 minutes
to overcome the budding young teenager 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.
The triumph marked Zaman's 4th PSA Tour title - all of which have been won
on home soil - but his first since May 2002!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SEMI-FINALS:
Mixed Fortunes For Zamans In Peshawar
There were mixed fortunes for the Zaman family in today's (Saturday)
semi-finals of the Governor NWFP Squash International when third seed Shahid
Zaman was prevented from joining cousin Mansoor Zaman, the No2 seed, in the
final of the $25,000 PSA Tour event at the Hashim Khan Complex in Peshawar,
Pakistan.
The 16-year-old top seed Aamir Atlas Khan convincingly endorsed his status
as Pakistan's top player when he crushed Shahid Zaman, a former Pakistan
No1, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 in just 21 minutes.
The success takes the Peshawar teenager into his first PSA Tour final.
Mansoor Zaman recovered from a game down to beat Pakistan-born New Zealander
Kashif Shuja 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 in 33 minutes. The 27-year-old from
Peshawar is celebrating his 16th PSA final appearance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
QUARTER-FINALS:
Krajcsak Conquered In Kashif Comeback
Kashif Shuja celebrated the return to the country of his birth by reaching
the semi-finals of the Governor NWFP Squash International - but the New
Zealander had to fight back from two games down in today's (Friday)
quarter-finals before overcoming Hungary's Mark Krajcsak in the $25,000 PSA
Tour event at the Hashim Khan Complex in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The Abbottabad-born fourth seed from Auckland beat Krajcsak 5-11, 8-11,
11-6, 11-7, 11-5 and goes on to face Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman for a place in
the final. Second seed Zaman beat fellow Peshawar player Farhan Mehboob, a
qualifier, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.
The other semi-final will be an all-Pakistan affair between top seed Aamir
Atlas Khan and third seed Shahid Zaman. 16-year-old Khan ended Englishman
Chris Simpson's run, beating the No6 seed from Guernsey 11-6, 11-4, 11-8,
while Zaman recovered from a game down to defeat Egypt's No8 seed Omar
Elborolossy 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8.
Mehboob now goes on to face compatriot Mansoor Zaman, the No2 seed who
defeated fellow countryman Arshad Iqbal Burki, another qualifier from
Peshawar, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9.
England's Chris Simpson, the 20-year-old sixth seed competing for the first
time in Pakistan, brushed aside USA's Christopher Gordon, also 20, from New
York, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9. The former European Junior Champion will now meet
favourite Aamir Atlas Khan for a place in the semi-finals.
Khan, just 16 and based in Peshawar, despatched compatriot Majid Khan 11-4,
11-6, 11-7.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST ROUND:
Farhan Forces Frankcomb Out Of Peshawar International
Pakistani qualifier Farhan Mehboob stole the headlines in today's (Thursday)
first round of the Governor NWFP Squash International when he upset
Australia's No5 seed Aaron Frankcomb in the $25,000 PSA Tour event at the
Hashim Khan Complex in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The 18-year-old Asian Junior Champion from the North-West Frontier Province
capital survived a tie-break in the first game to cruise to an 11-10 (2-0),
11-4, 11-6 victory over the 22-year-old Queenslander.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
QUALIFYING
Locals Lap Up PSA Tour Qualifying Opportunities In Peshawar
Home advantage clearly benefited the four Pakistanis who prevailed in
today's (Wednesday) qualifying finals of the Governor NWFP Squash
International in Peshawar - all of whom hail from the capital of Pakistan's
North-West Frontier Province.
Farhan Mehboob, the youngest of the Peshawar quartet, defeated compatriot
Naveed Atlas Khan 11-6, 10-11 (0-2), 11-4, 11-7. The 18-year-old Asian
Junior Champion will now meet Australia's No5 seed Aaron Frankcomb in the
first round of the $25,000 PSA Tour event at the Hashim Khan Complex.
An all-Pakistan - indeed, an all-Peshawar - final is predicted, with
16-year-old top seed Aamir Atlas Khan expected to meet second seed Mansoor
Zaman. Both face qualifiers in the first round, Khan to meet 23-year-old
Majid Khan, and Zaman lined up against Arshad Iqbal Burki. |