21 February 2004	Saturday	29 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: Ritwik Bhattacharya, the only Indian player in the qualifying round of the COAS International Squash Championship, fell by the wayside on Friday, losing to Pakistan's Muhammad Ilyas in four games.

Bhattacharya, who arrived in Islamabad only last night, went down 13-15, 15-5, 8-15, 13-15 in 53 minutes at the Roshan Khan Complex. The talented Yasir Butt was also a casualty on the opening day of the qualifying round as was Amir Atlas.

In a 60-minute match, the longest of the day, it was Safeerullah Khan who knocked out Yasir 15-11, 13-15, 15-4, 15-9 while Khalid Atlas had to draw all his energies in edging out his brother Amir 15-10, 11-15, 13-15, 15-6, 15-9.

In other matches, Khayal Muhammad outplayed an unfit Arshad Iqbal Burki 15-13, 15-9, 8-7 in just 24 minutes and Majid Khan was a comfortable 15-2, 15-5, 15-13 winner against Wakeel Khan.

The upcoming Farhan Mahboob needed less than half an hour in breezing past Alam Zeb Jnr 15-12, 15-7, 15-13 while Saeed Hassan brushed aside Naveed Atlas 15-8, 15-11, 15-6.

England's Alister Walker did not have to exert much in scoring a 15-7, 15-9, 15-6 victory which came in less than half and hour. The qualifying competition continues on Saturday.

Results (qualifying round-I): Khayal Muhammad (Pak) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) 15-13, 15-9, 8-7, Majid Khan (Pak) bt Wakeel Khan (Pak) 15-2, 15-5, 15-13, Muhammad Ilyas (Pak) bt Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind) 15-13, 5-15, 15-8, 15-13, Farhan Mahboob (Pak) bt Alam Zeb Jnr (Pak) 15-12, 15-7, 15-13, Saeed Hassan (Pak) bt Naveed Atlas (Pak) 15-8, 15-11, 15-6, Safeerullah Khan (Pak) bt Yasir Butt (Pak) 15-11, 13-15, 15-4, 15-9, Khalid Atlas (Pak) bt Amir Atlas (Pak) 15-10, 11-15, 13-15, 15-6, 15-9, Alister Walker (Eng) bt Majeed Hussain (Pak) 15-7, 15-9, 15-6.