August 10, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Punjab’s Yasir Butt stood tall on Saturday, winning his first under-19 title by downing top seed Safeerullah Khan in the final of the CAS National Junior Squash Championship in Peshawar.

Seeded fifth in the tournament, Yasir won 10-9, 9-0 as Safeerullah, of PAF, retired apparently feeling drained out in a match that had seen the opening game last almost an hour.

Yasir, the under-17 British Open champion, made a brave recovery in that game, bouncing back from 4-8 down to go on and win it. However, the second game was easy for him and he deservedly walked off with the title.

Such was Yasir’s form in the tournament that on his way to the final he had also knocked out second seed Shah Nawaz in Friday’s semifinal.

The talented Farhan Mahboob of PAF took the top honours in the under-17 competition, his victim being Adil Atlas, also from the air force, whom he beat 9-3, 9-2, 10-9.

Amir Atlas won the under-15 crown with a 9-4, 9-5, 9-3 defeat of Zahir Shah in another all-PAF clash.

Shoaib Hassan of Punjab upset Waqar Mahboob in a tough five game final 9-4, 3-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-2 to claim the under-13 title.

Results (finals)

UNDER-19: Yasir Butt (Punjab) bt Safeerullah Khan (PAF) 10-9, 9-0 (Retired)

UNDER-17: Farhan Mahboob (PAF) bt Adil Atlas (PAF) 9-3, 9-2, 10-9

UNDER-15: Amir Atlas (PAF) bt Zahir Shah (PAF) 9-4, 9-5, 9-3

UNDER-13: Shoaib Hassan (Punjab) bt Waqar Mahboob (PAF) 9-4, 3-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-2.

Tough task for Farrukh

Pakistan’s Farrukh Zaman has been drawn to meet Egyptian top seed Amr Shabana in the main round of the CAS International Squash Circuit starting in Peshawar from Aug 18.

Other Pakistanis in the main draw will see Shahid Zaman taking on M. Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia while Mansoor Zaman is to play a qualifier and wildcard Farhan Mahboob will face Australian John Williams.

Other players in the main round of the $25,000 event include Egyptians Mohammed Abbas, Omar Elborolossy and Wael El Hindi and Frenchman Renan Lavigne.

The pre-qualifying round of the tournament is slated for Aug 14 and 15 with the qualifying rounds taking place on Aug 16 and 17.