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| December 31, 2001 | Monday | Shawwal 15, 1422 |
Pakistanis dominate Scottish Open
KARACHI, Dec 30: Pakistan made a clean sweep in the Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 categories of the Scottish Open Junior Squash Championship as six Pakistani players reached the finals, reports reaching here from Edinburgh said Sunday.
The pre-finals of the Under-19 event were an all Pakistan affair as all the four Pakistani players faced each other. Naseem Tahkali outsmarted Shah Nawaz 9-1, 9-2, 9-1 to set a final against countryman Majid Khan.
Khan had the better of another Pakistani Imran Mohib whom he beat in a marathon five game battle 6-9, 3-9, 9-2, 9-4, 10-8. Pakistan, once a squash force at international level, now lags far behind and looks to these youngsters for the revival of the sport.
The 11 players sent for the Scottish Open are training under international coach Rehmat Khan who was a former coach of legendary Jahangir Khan. Pakistan’s Yasir Butt and Farhan Mehboob will play the final of the Under-15 event.
Butt beat Mohammad Azfar Azan of Malaysia 9-1, 9-0, 9-4 while Mehboob overcame Tom Hoerenaars of the Netherlands 10-8, 9-1, 5-9, 9-0 after facing some tough resistance. Safeer Khan and Khalid Atlas will contest the final of the Under-17 category after beating their semi-final rivals in contrasting styles.
Alam won a straight set semi-final against Siddaharth Suchde of India 9-3, 9-1, 9-0 while Atlas accounted for Jorge Quientero of Columbia in four games, winning 9-1, 7-9, 9-0, 9-2.
Following are the results: Under-15 (semifinals):
Yasir Butt (Pak) bt M. Azfar Azan (Mas) 9-1, 9-0, 9-4; Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Tom Hoerenaars (Netherlands) 10-8, 9-1, 5-9, 9-0 Under-17 (semifinals): Safeer Alam (Pak) bt Siddaharth Suchde (Ind) 9-3, 9-1, 9-0; Khalid Atlas (Pak) bt Jorge Quientero (Col) 9-1, 7-9, 9-0, 9-2 Under-19 (semifinals): Naseem Tahkali (Pak) bt Shah Nawaz (Pak) 9-1, 9-2, 9-1; Majid Khan (Pak) bt Imran Mohib (Pak) 6-9, 3-9, 9-2, 9-4, 10-8. —SADA
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