Pak hope Tayyab bows out in quarters

ISLAMABAD: Barring top seed Scottish Greg Loban, all other three spots in the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)-Serena Hotels International Squash Tournament semi-finals were seized by Egyptians here at the Mushaf Ali Mir Complex on Wednesday.

Led by the potential future star Mostafa Asal, Karim Ali Fathi and Youssef Soliman made it to the pre-final with comfortable wins. The only Pakistani survivor Tayyab Aslam bowed down meekly in an unexpected way.

Though there were hopes of tough match between him and Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi, it turned out to be mere one-sided affair. Karim, however, turned out to be more opportunist, winning the quarter-final comfortably 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 in a match that lasted for just 43 minutes.

Tayyab played a lost game, giving one opportunity and another to his well-versed opponent whose victory was never in doubt once he showed aggression at the outset.

Tayyab had his chances during the match but was unable to capitalize these more due to his poor finishing and his lack of control at the front half of the court.

Karim was too aggressive and made Pakistani player run for every point. “I did not play to my full potential. The Egyptian played better game. I tried my best to come up with his aggressive tempo, partially I succeeded but was unable to keep up the same tempo throughout the match,” Tayyab said.

Junior world champion Mostafa Asal got better of his opponent Mazen Gamal 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 to earn a place in the semi-finals.

Following a shaky start where he lost the first game against Mazen, Asal took control of the proceedings winning the next three in style.

Pakistan’s leading lady Madina Zafar gave good account of herself before losing to Korean girl Jihyun Lee in the women’s event quarter-final.

Madina won the first game 12-10 and was leading 6-2 in the second when she lost the battle against stamina as Lee won the next three 11-7, 11-3, 11-6. Provided she works hard on her stamina, Madina got a bright future ahead of her.

All other local girls also lost their quarter-final matches rather tamely.

Results: Men’s quarter-finals: Greg Loban (Sco) bt Mohamed Elshirbini (Egy) 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7; Mostafa Asal (Egy) bt Mazen Gamal (Egy) 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5; Karim Ali Fathi (Egy) bt Tayyab Aslam (Pak) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5; Youssef Soliman (Egy) bt Mohamed Reda (Egy) 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6.

Women’s quarter-finals: Farida Mohamed (Egy) bt Riffat Khan (Pak) 11-4, 11-2, 11-2; Sana Ibrahim (Egy) bt Moqaddas Ashraf (Pak) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3; Cindy Merlo (Sui) bt Amna Fayyaz (Pak) 11-4, 11-4, 11-9; Jihyun Lee (Kor) bt Madina Zafar (Pak) 10-12, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6.