INTERNATIONAL SQUASH: Bukhari beats Brits to advance

ISLAMABAD: Syed Ali Mujtaba Bukhari of Pakistan got better of Jean-Pierre Brits of South Africa in a five-game thriller as the $20,000 Serena Hotels-Huawei International Squash Tournament got under way at the Mushaf Ali Mir Complex on Saturday.

Bukhari won 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 in 48 minutes following a neck and neck battle. The Pakistani youngster was seen in top gear in the fifth game as he hit some sizzling down the court and backhand nicks to settle the matter.

Farhan Zaman’s bad form continued as he made yet another early exit. Omar Elkattan of Egypt easily defeated Farhan 11-2, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4.

Besides 11 Pakistani players, as many as 13 international players from Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe are competing in the tournament.

First round results: Karim Ali Fathi (Egy) got bye; Yannik Omlor (Ger) bt Israr Ahmad (Pak) 11-1, 11-1, 11-8 (16 min); Sean Conroy (Irl) bt Zahir Shah (Pak) 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 (29 min); Asim Khan (Pak) got bye; Ahmad Hosny (Egy) got bye; Ammar Altamimi (Kuw) bt Ahmed Hassan (Zim) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (20 min); Syed Ali Mujtaba Bukhari (Pak) bt Jean-Pierre Brits (Rsa) 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 (48 min); Farhan Mehboob (Pak) got bye; Shehab Essam (Egy) got bye; Amaad Fareed (Pak) bt Danish Atlas Khan (Pak) 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (43 min); Joeri Hapers (Bel) bt Haris Iqbal (Pak) 11-2, 11-5, 18-16 (40 min); Carlos Cornes Ribadas (Esp) got bye; Mohamed ElShirbini (Egy) got bye; Chi Him Wong (Hkg) bt Haris Qasim (Pak) 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 11-1 (35 min); Omar Elkattan (Egy) bt Farhan Zaman (Pak) 11-2, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4 (25 min); Tayyab Aslam (Pak) got bye.