29 August 2004	Sunday	12 Rajab 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: Little Farhan Mahboob was on Saturday standing tall after helping Pakistan keep their world junior team title in an exciting finish at the Mushaf Squash Complex.

The final with Egypt was delicately poised after both sides had won a match each before Farhan stepped on to the court to seal a memorable 2-1 victory for the home side.

His victim was Mahmoud Adel who was flogged 9-2, 9-4, 9-0 and soon after he had been put in place, on came the Pakistani players and officials to celebrate the triumph.

Kneeling in prayer on the court, coach Rehmat Khan and his charges then hugged each other in celebration as a Pakistani flag was unfurled.

Pakistan's success completed a fine double for Rehmat, under whom the national side had landed the title in 2002 at Chennai, for the first time in more than two decades.

Almost two years on, the team was again proudly holding the trophy aloft that was presented to them by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf, who came in only for the prize-giving, announced an enhancement of Rs 3 million to the cash award of Rs 2 million the team was to get originally on retaining their crown.

Before declaring the championship closed, Musharraf urged the national players to work even harder so that Pakistan could regain their lost glory in squash. "We have dropped behind in the sport which I hope is only a temporary phase."

Pakistan had made the kind of start no team would want, losing the first match in which Khalid Atlas went down fighting to Ramy Ashour 6-9, 6-9, 9-2, 7-9.

Yasir Butt evened it for the hosts with a 9-4, 3-9, 9-4, 9-1 defeat of Omar Abu Zid, playing in place of an unwell Ahmed Al Swaify. It was then left to Farhan to do the needful for the home team.

Khalid, who had fallen two games behind, clinched the third through a remarkable effort and nearly took the fourth but a momentary lapse in concentration saw his rival wrap up the match.

The Pakistani who had raised his game considerably was 6-2 up in the opener; however, he let all that slip away as Ashour, winner of last week's individual title, came back strongly to snatch it with panache.

In the second game too, Khalid was ahead 4-1 and again as he did earlier, allowed Ahsour to level the scores after which the Egyptian slowly and surely surged ahead, to earn a comfortable 2-0 cushion for himself. Khalid was a class act in the third game in which he unleashed a volley of sizzling strokes, leading from start to finish and never let Ashour to catch up with him.

The home player made another fine start to the fourth game, enjoying a 6-3 lead at one stage, yet Ashour, exhibiting all the qualities of a champion, came roaring back and soon was serving for the match.

Khalid, who in a last gasp effort saved two match points, was not able to extend the tie, much to the dismay of the Pakistani camp.

Omar Abu Zid gave the hosts a scare, taking the second game off Yasir before the Pakistani, a former junior British Open champion, got his act together to save the match.

Yasir, the losing finalist of the individual championship, made a quick start winning the first game only to see Omar bounce back in the second.

With the game scores 1-1, Yasir, returning after a pep talk with coach Rehmat swept into the lead in the third game that he effectively dominated. His domination was even more complete in the fourth game in which he dropped only a point.

It was fine work by Yasir who executed his shots well, making only minor mistakes during the course of play.

Farhan was the only Pakistan player not to lose a game and had little time for his rival, finishing him off in just over 30 minutes.

Earlier, in the playoff for third place, England defeated Kuwait to take the bronze medal.

Results (final): Pakistan bt Egypt 2-1 (Khalid Atlas lost to Ramy Ashour 6-9, 6-9, 9-2, 7-9; Yasir Butt bt Omar Abu Zid 9-4, 3-9, 9-4, 9-1, Farhan Mahboob bt Mahmoud Adel 9-2, 9-4, 9-0).