KARACHI, Aug 16: Former national squash champion Mansoor Zaman was one step away from qualifying for the English Open when he defeated France’s Jean Michel Arcucci in the opening match of two-day qualifiers in Sheffield (England) on Monday night.

According to the results of the championship made available here, Mansoor took 57 minutes to beat the Frenchman 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 on the first day of the 16-man qualifying rounds.

Mansoor, world number 24, who is the top seed in qualifying rounds, was 1-7 down in the fourth game before making a recovery and winning it 11-8 to set a date with England’s Phillip Barker in the final qualifying round.

A victory against Barker would give Mansoor a place in the 16-man main round draws. Barker defeated fellow Englishman Scott Handley in another qualifying round match.

Mansoor’s compatriot Yasir Butt fell at the first hurdle in the competition against England’s Peter Barker. The Englishman won 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 in 39 minutes.

The main rounds of the English Open would start from Wednesday with Pakistan number one Shahid Zaman taking on a qualifier in his opening match of the tournament.—PPI