Nasir reaches Serena Hotels-CAS International Squash C’ship semis

KARACHI: Nasir Iqbal moved into the semi-finals of the Serena Hotels-CAS International Squash Championship in Islamabad on Sunday.
Fourth seed Nasir defeated wildcard Israr Ahmad 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 in 46 minutes in the quarter-finals. Nasir is the only Pakistani to get into the last-four stage, mainly due to the draw that favored him.
In another quarter-final, top seed Omar Abdel Meguid of Egypt defeated qualifier Farhan Mehboob 9-11, 11-1, 14-12, 11-7 in 62 minutes.
Third seed Karim Al-Fathi of Egypt thrashed sixth seed Tayyab Aslam 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 in just 35 minutes and second seed Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt overpowered compatriot seventh seed Shehab Essam 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 in 71 minutes.
In the semi-finals, top seed Omar Abdel Meguid is to face Karim Al-Fathi and Nasir is up against Mohamed Abouelghar.
Earlier on Saturday, qualifier Waqar Mehboob lost to top seed Omar Abdel Meguid of Egypt 5-11, 5-11, 10-12; qualifier Farhan Mehboob beat fifth seed Danish Atlas Khan 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4; qualifier Saqib Yousuf was beaten by sixth seed Tayyab Aslam 6-11, 3-11, 7-11.
Aqeel Rehman of Austria was defeated by third seed Karim Al Fathi of Egypt 5-11, 3-11, 8-11; fourth seed Nasir won against Adil Maqbool 11-1, 11-7, 11-4; wildcard entrant Israr Ahmad stunned eighth seed Shahjahan Khan 11-9, 11-7, 12-10.
Seventh seed Shehab Essam of Egypt overpowered Lance Beddoes of New Zealand 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6; and qualifier Kashif Asifh was smashed by second seed Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt 1-11, 5-11, 4-11.