January 18, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Five Pakistanis were knocked out of the COAS International Squash Championship Friday, four of them falling to Egyptian opponents as the main round of the $25,000 event began at the Roshan Khan Complex.

Majid Khan, Amjad Khan, Khayal Muhammad, Zubair Ali Khan and Shamsul Islam, all fell by the wayside with the Egyptian players enjoying a particularly fruitful day on court, advancing to the quarterfinals.

While a back injury prevented Majid from continuing his match against tournament’s Egyptian top seed Karim Darwesh who won 15- 2, 15-3 in just 11 minutes, a troublesome knee sent Amjad Khan out too, losing to Australian John Williams 5-15, 5-15, 5-15 in just over 10 minutes.

Khayal Muhammad was the third Pakistani victim of the day who did not have much of a game plan against his experienced Egyptian rival, Omar Elborossy, the world No 24.

After losing a close first game 16-17, the towering Omar dominated Khayal and won the next three games 15-5, 15-1, 12-3 to start off his title chase in style and go marching into the quarters.

But Pakistan’s Shamsul Islam put up a brave fight against Muhammad Essam Hafiz of Egypt in a match he could have easily won but let the game slip away, wasting four match points. In the end it was the Egyptian who took the honours 15-13, 15-12, 8-15, 6- 15, 17-15.

There was more humiliation for the home country as Zubair Ali Khan was shown the door by another Egyptian, Muhammad Abbas, ranked 35, 15-14, 10-15, 2-15, 2-15 in 38 minutes.

However, Shahid Zaman had to pay the penalty for indulging in rough play, arguing every call and shoving his rival Muhammad Ilyas so hard while attempting to play a shot, the poor fellow had to be taken to the hospital.

The incident occurred when Shahid, ranked 29 was two games up and both players stood level at 8-all in the third. As a result, Ilyas was unable to continue and the relevant officials ruled that Shahid’s act was deliberate and hence the match was awarded to his rival.

Farrukh Zaman was the only home player to beat a foreigner, but had to put in all his energies in doing so, scoring a 15-13, 15-12, 8-15, 15-12 victory over Muhammad Azlan Iskander of Malaysia.

World No. 18, Mansoor Zaman was also a winner, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 15-8, 17-15, 3-15, 15-13 success against country-fellow Ejaz Azmat.

Saturday’s fixtures (quarterfinals): Karim Darwesh (Egy) v John Williams (Aus), Omar Elborossy (Egy) v Muhamed Essam A. Hafiz (Egy), Muhammad Abbas (Egy) v Mansoor Zaman (Pak), Farrukh Zaman (Pak) v Muhammad Ilyas (Pak).