March 21, 2002	Thursday	Muharram 6, 1423

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LAHORE, March 20: Six Pakistani players have brightened their chances for the main round of the 19th Pakistan Open Squash-2002 after winning their respective matches on the first day of the two-day qualifying round at the Punjab Squash  Complex  and Lahore Gymkhana courts on Wednesday.

In all, 16 matches were to be played on the first day of  the qualifying round. John Williams (Australia) and  Renan Lavinge (France)  got byes. The match between Adrian Grant and  Naveed Atlas was still in progress when this report was filed.

Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Shamsul Islam, Yasir  Butt, Muhammad Ilyas and Aijaz Azmat won their matches on the opening day.

In the most thrilling match, Shehier Razik (Egypt) beat Zubair Ali Khan (Pakistan) after 63 minutes. The score in Shehier Razik’s favour was 12-15, 17-15, 15-9, 13-15, 15-12.

Dan Jenson from Australia  defeated Safeerullah Khan (Pakistan) 3-1. The Aussie lost the second game in his 15-12, 13-15, 15-5, 15-8 victory.

Lars Harms (Switzerland) recovered to beat Saeed  Hassan (Pakistan) 3-1. The score in his favour was 12-15, 15-13, 15-6, 15-11. Shamsul Islam beat Shah Nawaz in another four game match 5-17, 15-7, 15-11, 15-6.

In another well contested match Yasir Butt got the better of Imran Khan 15-11, 16-17, 15-10 15-13.

The other matches were decided in straight games.

Following were the results:

Dan Jenson (Australia) bt Safeerullah Khan (Pakistan) 15-12, 13-15, 15-5, 15-8. Wael El Hindi (Egypt) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) 15-7, 11-15, 15-6, 15-10. Lars Harms (Sui) bt Saeed Hasan (Pak) 12-15, 15-13, 15-6, 15-11. Amr Shabana (Egypt) bt Farrukh Zaman (Pak) 15-11, 15-12, 15-13. Mansoor Zaman (Pak) bt Naseem Tahkali (Pak) 15-11, 15-6, 15-5. Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt Asghar Khan (Pak) 15-3, 15-8, 17-16. Shamsul Islam (Pak) bt Shah Nawaz (Pak) 15-17, 15-7, 15-11, 15-6. Yasir Butt (Pak) bt Imran Khan (Pak) 15-11, 16-17,15-10, 15-13. Azlan Iskandar (Malaysia) bt Waseem Shad (Pak) 15-3, 15-7, 15-8. Aijaz Azmat (Pak) bt Khayal Muhammad (Pak) 15-8, 15-11, 15-10. Shehier Razik (Egypt) Zubair Ali Khan (Pak) 12-15, 17-15, 15-9, 13-15, 15-12. M Essam A Hafiz (Egypt) bt Majid Khan (Pak) 15-9, 15-11, 15-8. Mohammad Ilyas bt Raj Nanda (Aus) 15-13, 15-5, 15-8.