Farhan, Nasir out of Asian Squash

KARACHI: Farhan Zaman and Nasir Iqbal failed to continue their giant-killing spree and lost in the semi-finals of men’s Asian Squash Championship at Sheikh Salem Al Sabah International Squash Complex, Kuwait, on Monday.
Eleventh seed Farhan was drawn against fourth seed Leo Au of Hong Kong in the first semi-final. Farhan started at a blistering pace. Leo really had no answer as Farhan won the first set 11-5.
Leo slowed down the pace in the second, which seemed to rattle Farhan’s rhythm. And soon the Pakistani boy was 2-1 down.
The fourth was a splendid match of Zaman’s shot making and Leo’s retrieving.
Zaman saved four match balls and had two game balls himself, which he could not convert. Leo stayed strong to win 3-1.
The final score was 5-11, 11-9, 15-13, 18-16 in 67 minutes.
Seventh seed Nasir was up against third seed Kuwaiti Abdullah Al-Mezayen in the second semi-final. Nasir won the first set by defusing his opponent’s artful deception and delay tactics.
But Abdullah settled down and took the second and third set without having to work really hard.
Nasir picked up everything that was thrown at him and he too played some delightful shots.
Abdullah looked a spent force in the fourth and threw it away. He, however, charged back on to court in the fifth and surprising almost everyone, especially Nasir, swept through the game 11/6. The final score was 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 in 67 minutes.
Four Pakistani players are taking part in this championship and all got byes in the first round. Danish Atlas, 12th seed, and Tayyab Aslam, 14th seed, lost in the pre-quarter-finals.
The selection of Nasir and Farhan for this championship through trials became controversial as Pakistan’s No1 Farhan Mehboob and defending champion of this event Amir Atlas refused to appear in the trials and demanded exemption.
But Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) refused to budge. “PSF gave Amir Atlas exemption from trials in the past. What made them change their mind this time is beyond comprehension,” said an official of a provincial squash association.