15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

PESHAWAR, Oct 14: Top seeded Mansoor Zaman and second seed One Beng Hee of Malaysia with six others cruised into the second round of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Champion being played at the Army Squash Complex.

It was easy sailing for all top seeded players with former Asian Champion and Pakistan's top ranking player in the world Mansoor Zaman taking no time in humiliating Majid Khan in straight set 3-0.

Mansoor took the first two sets 11-3 11-5 but faced tough resistance in the third. The set was tied at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 10-10 and at the end lefty Mansoor won the match by winning the last tie-breaker set 11-10 (15-13).

Current Asian gold medalist One Beng Hee of Malaysia took 44 minutes in toppling Shamsul Islam of Pakistan 3-1. The score was 11-7, 11-5, 9-11 and 11-9. Beng faced a tough time against Shamsul Islam, known for his rallies who kept his rival under tremendous pressure when he won the third game. But later on Shamsul Islam failed to continue his aggressive display and thus lost the match 3-1.

Ranked 45 in the world, Hisham Mohammad Ashour, a professional Egyptian defeated Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) in the marathon battle which lasted 43 minutes. Both the youngsters stretched to five sets as Hisham won the first set by 11-7 but soon lost to Arshad Iqbal Burki at 9-11 but Hisham came back strong and won the third set by 11-6.

Arshad showed his tremendous skills and powerful drives in the fourth set as a result Hisham lost the set 6-11 but staged another come back by winning the decisive set by 11-7 to seal Irshad fate to 3-2 battle.

Qualifier Yasir Butt, who recently played a vital role in clinching gold for Pakistan in the World Junior Team gold, defeated bulky Shahid Zaman 11-5, 11-9 as the latter (Shahid) retired after losing two games in the 24 minute match.

SAF gold medalist Farrukh Zaman defeated Jean Michel Arcucci of France 3-2 in a battle lasting 67 minutes. The score of the five sets match was 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11 and 11-6.

Mohammad Essam A. Hafiz of Egypt defeated Farhan Mehboob by 3-1 in another thrilling encounter watched by capacity crowd despite tight security measures taken by the law enforcing agencies for the visiting foreign players from Malaysia, Egypt, France, England, Ireland, and Kuwait.

The final Championship, which carries a purse prize of US $ 25000/-, will be played on October 17, 2004. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Sadaat will grace the occasion on the final and prize distribution ceremony.

The event has been organised by PAF Sports Control Board in collaboration with Pakistan Squash Federation which is also an annual feature of the World Squash Calender. -APP