05 December 2004	Sunday	22 Shawwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Amjad Khan continued his comeback with an upset of fancied Farrukh Zaman on Saturday to move into the second and final qualifying round of the $65,000 Bank Alfalah Pakistan Open squash championship.

In what was an engrossing match, Amjad edged his rival 11-10 (2- 0), 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 after being on court for nearly 40 minutes.

Amjad, the only Pakistani, apart from the greats Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan to have won the championship, said he was shaping up well. "I am confident that I will qualify for the main round; it was a tough match today and I am happy the way I played."

A total of 16 players made the second stage of the qualifying round to be contested on Sunday following which eight will make the main draw.

Among the other home players to advance were Majid Khan, Khayal Muhammad, Shamsul Islam Khan, Farhan Mahboob, Arshad Iqbal and Shahid Zaman.

Shahid needed just over 15 minutes in outplaying Waqar Mehboob 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 while Arshad knocked out Muhammad Ateeq 11-8, 11-3, 11-2.

Majid Khan edged Asghar Khan 11-6, 11-7, 11-10 and Khayal scored a difficult 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-9 victory against Waseem Shad.

It was an easy day for Farhan Mahboob who routed Farhan Moeen 11- 3, 11-4, 11-3 in only 15 minutes. Shams on the other hand had to go to four game in overcoming Mubashir Gul 3-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11- 7.

The foreigners to win on Saturday were Laures Jan Anjema of The Netherlands who squeezed a 11-6, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-6 win against Aaqaib Hanif. Australia's Cameron Pillet downed Khalid Atlas without much difficulty 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

In other matches, Gavin Jones of Wales brushed aside Jehanzeb Masood 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 and Englishman Joey Barrington beat Bilal Zaman 11-1, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6.

Barrington's compatriot Jonathan Kemp also went through after Basit Ashfaq had to retire. The main round of the championship is to begin on Monday.

Results (first qualifying round):

Laures Jan Anjema (Ned) bt Aaqib Hanif (Pak) 11-6, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-6, Zubair Ali Khan (Pak) bt Safeerullah (Pak) 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-10, Majid Khan (Pak) bt Asghar Khan (Pak) 11-6, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), Khayal Muhammad (Pak) bt Waseem Shad (Pak) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-9, Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt Khalid Atlas (Pak) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, Shamsul Islam Khan (Pak) bt Mubashir Gul (Pak) 3-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, Gavin Jones (Wal) bt Jehanzeb Masood (Pak) 11-2, 11-6, 11- 4, Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Farhan Moeen (Pak) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3, Arshad Iqbal (Pak) bt Muhammad Ateeq (Pak) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2, Joey Barrington (Eng) bt Bilal Zaman (Pak) 11-1, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, Wakeel KHan (Pak) bt Naveed Atlas (Pak) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt Waqar Mehboob (Pak) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4, Saeed Hassan (Pak) bt Aman Gul (Pak) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, Jonathan Kemp (Eng) bt Basit Ashfaq (Pak) retired hurt, Amjad Khan (Pak) bt Farrukh Zaman (Pak) 11-10 (2-0), 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, Khawaja Adil Maqbool (Pak) bt Bradley Ball (Eng) retired hurt.