|
|
|
| August 27, 2005 | Saturday | Rajab 21, 1426 |
Mansoor to face Grant in final
ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Pakistan’s Mansoor Zaman and Englishman Adrian Grant checked into the final of the $25,000 Chief of the Air Staff squash championship on Friday scoring semifinal victories at the Mushaf Complex.
Mansoor, world ranked 26, dropped a game in the first semifinal against his young compatriot Aamir Atlas but quickly came back to take the match 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 in 30 minutes while Grant, the No 19, defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Abbas 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 in the other pre-final.
The match involving the home players proved to be an anti-climax and did not provide the excitement that was expected and it appeared as if Aamir just threw it away after making a fine start.
Matching Mansoor stroke for stroke, Aamir, 14, gave no indication that he was under any kind of pressure against his senior opponent in the first game.
Executing his strokes well he won the opener and it appeared that it was going to be an intriguing battle ahead. But Aamir, contrary to all expectations, could not put up the kind of show that had seen him conquer top seed Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia in the pre-quarters.
Mansoor, not happy with quiet a few decisions, made amends after conceding the first game and came roaring back into the match. He pinned down Aamir with some intelligent play and there was no stopping him.
Aamir, who defeated Safeerullah Khan in Thursday’s quarterfinal, made several unforced errors as Mansoor continued to force the pace.
After the third game the writing was on the wall for Aamir as he was made to run all over by Mansoor, who returned from England only recently after playing matches against top players there.
Aamir said after the match it was not that he had fared badly but pointed out that his opponent played really well.
In the second semifinal, Grant needed 40 minutes to eliminate Abbas, the man who dashed the host nation’s hopes of having a third player in the last four alongside Mansoor and Aamir by beating Yasir Butt in the quarterfinals.
Results (semifinals): Mansoor Zaman (Pak) bt Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5; Adrian Grant (Eng) bt Mohamed Abbas (Egy) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. Final (Saturday, 4.00pm): Mansoor Zaman (Pak) v Adrian Grant (Eng).
|
|
|
|
