INTERNATIONAL SQUASH: Wonder boy Mostafa lands title in style

ISLAMABAD: Egypt’s wonder boy Mostafa Asal rallied back from two games down to beat his much-experienced and highly-ranked countryman Youssef Soliman in the final to land the $30,000 Chief of the Air Staff-Serena Hotels International Squash Tournament for Men title here at the Mushaf Ali Mir Complex on Friday.

The junior world champion beat world No 30 and second seed Soliman 8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-7 to announce his arrival on the senior circuit, earning his first ever $30,000 crown.

The final turned out to be a real treat for the packed audience that also included Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff.

Soliman was seen at his best at the outset, winning the first two games following hard and tough tussle. Asal was exceptional in his court coverage while Soliman was accurate and happened out to be nimble footed when it came to utilizing opportunities.

However, Soliman suffered minor finger injury in between the second game that allowed him to take two back-to-back injury time outs. Soliman gave up third and fourth games in an effort to concentrate fully on the fifth and final. Asal, however, had other ideas as he raced to early lead in the final game and went on to win it easily.

“I am really happy to win my first ever $30,000 title. I have won $10,000 previously but this is the biggest I have ever won,” he said.

Asal hoped that the title would prove first of his many to come. “It is just a start of my career.”

The champion said he was hopeful of winning the title even after losing the first two games. “I knew I had a chance and I managed to claim the crown.”

Earlier, Farida Mohamed of Egypt exhibited her power-packed game to beat Cindy Merlo of Switzerland 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the final to capture the women’s title.

She started the final in a lazy fashion but soon recovered to take the grip winning the first games easily.

Merlo responded well in the second with some exciting drop shots and nicks. That was all she could do as during the rest of match she was the second best. Farida won the third game and looked totally dominant in the fifth, which she led from start to finish.

“I am glad that I have won my first ever $10,000 event. I am happy that I have done it in front of my father,” she said.

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, was the chief guest at the occasion and gave away prizes. Ambassador of Egypt H.E. Ahmed Fadel Yacoub, senior serving PAF officers, former world champion Qamar Zaman and Aziz Bolani (CEO Serena Hotels) along with a large number of squash lovers witnessed the match.