12 locals in main round of Pakistan Open Squash

ISLAMABAD: As many as 12 local players have been drawn in the main round of high profile $ 50000 Pakistan Open that springs into action at the Mushaf Ali Mir Complex from Tuesday.

The Open returns to the country after 10 years of wait that saw Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) making all out effort to get their right to host the event. Finally it is back due to some untiring effort of the federation.

The Open would now see 12 Pakistani men players featuring in the main round. That also includes eight qualifiers Syed Ali Bukhari, Kashif Asif, Waqar Mehboob, Shahjahan Khan, Rui Soares, Shoaib Hassan, Asim Khan and Adeen Ikrakie.

Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman, Ahsan Ayaz and Tayyab Aslam are the automatic qualifiers while Israr Ahmad has been given wild card.Pakistan main hope Farhan Mehboob has a tough outing against Mazan Gamal in the opening round that also sees Israr taking on Malaysian powerhouse Nafizwan Adnan.

Three Pakistani pairs Ali Bokhari and Tayyab Asalm, Farhan Zaman-Waqar Mehboob andn Ahsan Ayaz and Shoiab Hasan are pitted against each other in the opening round.In the Women CAS International that would also be played on the sidelines of the Open, top four players-Enora Villard, Nouran El Torky, Hana Moataz and Hana Ramadan-have qualified to join the main round also starting from Tuesday.

Qualifying round results: CAS International (women): Enora Villard (Fra) bt Farah Momen (Egy) 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6; Nouran El Torky (Egy) bt Nadia Pfister (Sui) 11-5, 17-15, 11-1; Hana Moataz (Egy) bt Arezoosadat Mousavizadeh (Iri) 11-1, 11-5, 11-6; Hana Ramadan (Egy) bt Sachika Ingale (Ind) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10

Pakistan Open (men): Syed Ali Bukhari (Pak) bt Danish Atlas (Pak) 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6; Kashif Asif (Pak) bt Sean Conory (Irl) 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8; Waqar Mehboob (Pak) bt Raees Khan (Pak) 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6; Shahjahan Khan (Pak) bt Faraz Muhammad (Pak) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2; Rui Soares (Por) bt Waqas Mehboob (Pak) 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9; Shoaib Hassan(Pak) bt Zeeshan Khan (Pak) 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2; Asim Khan (Pak) bt Sadam Ul Haq (Pak) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8; Adeen Idrakie (Mas) bt Bilal Zakir (Pak) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.