Noor, Asim stun opponents as World Squash Championship gets underway

ISLAMABAD: Two leading Pakistan players, Mohammad Asim Khan and Noor Zaman, have made it to the second round of the Men’s World Squash Championship, underway in Chicago (USA).

In the first round held the other day, the recent winner of the inaugural World Under-23 Squash, Noor, edged out Qatar’s Abdullah Al Tamimi (seeded inside top 35) in a hard fought five-game match 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7. Riding on his stamina and fitness, Noor was in stunning form during the last two games, which he won 11-4 and 11-7, outplaying his opponent in every department of the game.

Following his recent success in the inaugural event, Noor’s confidence was at an all-time high. According to reports reaching here, he played far better squash in the last two games against what was on display during the first three games.

His opponent was seen losing the battle against stamina. Pakistan’s leading player Mohammad Asim Khan prevailed over Frenchman Augusta Dussound, also seeded inside 35, following a hard-fought 76-minute battle. Asim won 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-2.

It was one of the epic battles seen in the opening round of the World Championship, with both players failing to cave in until the last game, which Asim dominated. Asim will now take on Malaysian Eain Yow Ng in the second round.

Noor faces a tougher opponent in the second round as he will take on sixth-seeded Egyptian Karim Abdul Jawad. Kin of Pakistan’s Jehan faimly, Shahjehan also downed Timmy Brownell 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 to make it to the second round of the prestigious event.

Egyptian Ali Frag is seeded No 1 in the World Championship with his countryman and world No. 1 Mostafa Asal being No. 2 seed in the Dollar .6 million event.