ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Pakistanis Ejaz Azmat and Shamsul Islam were knocked out of the qualifying rounds of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open squash championship but country-fellow Farrukh Zaman advanced by beating his Canadian rival in five games.

Shahier Razik was Farrukh’s victim who fought tooth and nail before going down 11-15, 15-14, 15-13, 8-15, 13-15 in an engrossing match.

Farrukh will now play Renan Lavigne of France in the second qualifying round.

Ejaz meanwhile fell 4-15, 10-15, 8-15 to Britain’s Stephen Meads in 38 minutes and Shams was ousted by Australian John Williams 12-15, 14-17, 11-15.

There are another two Pakistanis who are to compete in the main round with Mansoor Zaman taking on Chris Walker of England on Tuesday and Shahid Zaman up against Australia’s David Palmer the following day.

The Aug 25-Sept 1 tournament offers a prize money of $120,000.