RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 First Insurance Open, Amman, Jordan
Danish Double For Khan In Amman
Pakistani teenager Danish Atlas Khan celebrated his first
time back in Jordan since winning the Asian Junior Championship
there in 2011 when he picked up his fifth PSA World Tour
title at the First Insurance Open, the PSA Challenger 5
squash event at the Al-Hassan International Squash Center in
the country's capital Amman.
The top seed came through a tough semi - taken to five games by
unseeded local star Ahmad Alzabidi, a 24-year-old from Amman
ranked outside the world top 200.
In
the final, world No75 Khan faced Ammar Altamimi, the No2 seed
from Kuwait who scored a straight games win over Finland's
higher-ranked Matias Tuomi in the other semi.
Tied up to 11-all in the first game of the final, it was underdog
Altamimi (pictured above, left, with Khan) that drew first
blood by taking the opener.
After drawing level by winning the second, 19-year-old Khan moved
ahead from six-all in the third to take the game and move into the
lead for the first time.
"Altamimi,
knowing that he had to win the fourth game to realise his dream of
winning the championship, played hard and fought for every point,"
said a spokesman for the event. "This gave a seemingly comfortable
lead at 7-4, but then exhaustion was apparent.
"Altamimi
was not able to handle Khan's drop shots. The score was tied at 7-7.
Khan won two consecutive points and led 9-7. The longest rally in
the match was now taking place: Altamimi went after a side post from
Khan and attempted a drop shot, but hit the tin.
"It was a match point. Khan served and quickly downed Altamimi 11-7
to win the game and the Championship."
After his 11-13, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 triumph in 71 minutes,
Peshawar-based Khan received his trophy from Dr. Ali Wazani,
CEO of First Insurance Company, the tournament sponsor, and Dr.
Ramzi Tabbalat, President of Jordan Squash Federation.
