January 7, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Pakistani players enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Junior British Open Squash Championship as Safeer Khan checked into the under-19s final but his country-fellow Khalid Atlas could not.

Safeer had little trouble in going past Ahmed Mohsin of Egypt 9-6, 9-1, 9-7. However Khalid went down fighting in his semifinal against Dutchman Dylan Bennet 4-9, 9-5, 1-9, 9-5, 1-9.

In the under-17 competition, Yasir Butt set up a date in the final with his compatriot Farhan Mahboob after both won their semifinals in straight games.

While Yasir thrashed Egypt’s Basen El Torabishy 9-4, 9-2, 9- 0, Farhan routed England’s Nicholas Bradley 9-3, 9-0, 9-3 to ensure an all-Pakistan final.

There was no luck though for the Pakistani under-15 duo of Farzan Rashid and Zahir Shah as they crashed to their respective rivals in straight games in the semifinals.

Farzan fell to Egypt’s Tarek Momen 6-9, 2-9, 4-9 and Zahir was knocked out by another Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid 6-9, 7-9, 1-9 to end Pakistan’s under-15 challenge.

The under-13 players Adnan Khan and Amir Atlas on the other hand made the last four with easy victories over their opponents. Adnan’s victim was Omar Magdy Ghanam of Egypt whom he beat 9-7, 9-2, 9-6 while Amir sent Malaysia’s Ivan Yuen packing 9-3, 9-2, 9-3.

Results:

Under-19 semifinals: Safeer Khan bt Ahmed Mohsen (Egy), Dylan Bennet (Neth) bt Khalid Atlas 9-4, 5-9, 9-1, 5-9, 9- 1.

Under-17 semifinals: Yasir Butt bt Basen El Torabishy (Egy) 9-4, 9-2, 9-0, Farhan Mahboob bt Nicholas Bradley (Warwickshire) 9-3, 9-0, 9-3.

Under-15 semifinals: Tarek Momen (Egy) bt Farzan Rashid 9-6, 9-2, 9-4, Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy) bt Zahir Shah 9-6, 9-7, 9-1.

Under-13 quarterfinals: Adnan Khan bt Omar Magdy Ghanam (Egy) 9-7, 9-2, 9-6, Amir Atlas bt Ivan Yuen (Mas) 9-3, 9-2, 9-3.