March 9, 2006	Thursday	Safar 8, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, March 8: Shahid Zaman and Mansoor Zaman scored come-from-behind victories on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the $25,000 Chief of the Army Staff International Squash Championship.

In an engrossing opening match of the day at the Mushaf Squash Complex, Shahid, at No. 17 the highest ranked player of the championship, edged Yasir Butt 7-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9.

Mansoor, son of former champion Qamar Zaman, was also given a tough time by young Farhan who started off well incredibly winning the first two games before Mansoor roared back to win 9- 11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-10, 11-9.

Shahid will now face Khayal Mohammad in Thursday’s quarterfinals while Mansoor takes on Majid Khan.

Majid also had a difficult match against Aamir Atlas Khan, newphew of the great Jansher Khan, and like Shahid and Mansoor had to go the distance.

The start for him was good as he wrapped up the first two games but Aamir fought back to win the next two leaving the match delicately poised.

In a tense final game it was Majid who held his nerves to complete a 11-9, 11-7, 10-11, 6-11, 11-10 victory in 69 minutes.

However Amjad Khan, a former Pakistan Open champion was not allowed that much time on court by Egyptian Ramy Ashour, one of three foreigners in the main round.

Ashour, the world No 30 needed just over 10 minutes to send his Pakistani opponent crashing 11-4, 11-2, 11-4, the victory putting him in a quarterfinal clash with Arshad Iqbal Burki, a 11-10, 11- 10, 9-11, 11-4 winner against Naveed Atlas.

Mohammad Abbas, the other Egyptian in the competition set up a meeting in the last eight with India’s Ritwik Bhattacharya after thrashing home player Basit Ashfaq 11-3, 11-6, 11-0.

Bhattacharya found Shamsul Islam a stubborn opponent and was extended before securing a 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-10 win while Khayal defeated Safeerullah Khan 11-9, 11-7, 11-5.

Results:

Shahid Zaman bt Yasir Butt 7-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 0 Khayal Mohammad bt Safeerullah Khan 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt Amjad Khan 11-4, 11-2, 11-4, Arshad Iqbal Burki bt Naveed Atlas 11-10, 11-10, 9-11, 11-4, Majid Khan bt Amir Atlas 11-9, 11-7, 10-11, 6-11, 11-10, Ritwik Bhattacharya bt Shamsul Islam 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-10, Mansoor Zaman bt Farhan Mahboob 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-10, 11-9, Mohammad Abbas bt Basit Ashfaq 11-3, 11-6, 11-0.

Quarterfinals: Ramy Ashour v Arshad Iqbal Burki, Majid Khan v Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman v Khayal Mohammad, Ritwik Bhattacharya v Mohammad Abbas.