KARACHI, Feb 5: As expected, Pakistan's Shamsul Islam Khan, Yasir Butt and former women's champion Carla Khan placed themselves In the semifinals of Country View Kuala Lumpur Open squash championships defeating their respective opponents at Bukit Jalil, Malaysia.

According to the details made available on Saturday, top seeded Shamsul who made a come back after a gap of couple of years last year outpaced local seventh seeded Timothy Arnold in three straight sets contest in just 19 minutes in the first quarterfinal.

Second seeded in the event, Yasir playing in the last quarterfinal outclassed his compatriot sixth seeded Safeerullah Khan who retired hurt from the game after losing two sets 7-11, 4-11.

Pakistan's Farhan Butt who was third seeded player in the event was surprised by fifth seeded Saurav Ghousal from India.

Saurav extended him fully in the four sets encounter lasted after 46 minutes. Farhan managed to win only the second set 11-8.

Pakistan's former women's champion Carla who was seeded third in the championship survived the scare of losing against sixth seeded Engy Kheirallh in the full five set encounter.

Both the players remained engaged for more than an hour before Carla finally coming out victorious.

Men's quarterfinal results:

Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) bt Timothy Arnold (MAS) 11-6 11-9 11-3 (19m), Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-6 8-11 11-9 11-8 (46m), Amr Mansi (EGY) bt Morten W Sorensen (DEN) 9-11 11-4 7-11 11-6 11-10 (2-0) (78m), Yasir Butt (PAK) bt Safeer Ullah Khan (PAK) 11-7 11-4 ret inj.

Women's quarterfinal Results:

Nicol David (MAS) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-4 9-0 9-1 (19m), Carla Khan (PAK) bt Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 9-6 9-5 9-10 0-9 9-7 (74m), Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Tegwen Malik (WAL) 5-9 9-4 9-3 3-9 9-6 (47m), Annelize Naude (NED) bt Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) 9-3 9-4 9-1 (29m). -PPI