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| March 17, 2006 | Friday | Safar 16, 1427 |
Squash: Shahid, Mansoor fall at first hurdle
KARACHI, March 16: Pakistan squash hit rock-bottom as hopes for medal in Commonwealth Games were shattered when country’s top players, Shahid Zaman and Mansoor Zaman, were sent packing in their opening matches in single events in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday.
Zaman cousins were the only players representing Pakistan in the event with Pakistan No1 Shahid got bye in the first round.
According to details made available here, two rounds of squash singles were played on the inaugural day of CW Games taking winners into the pre quarters stages.
Mansoor, seeded 15th was the first to go down when he was stunned by unseeded Gavin Jones of Wales in the first round in a 72-minute battle.
Left-handed Mansoor who is not enjoying the best of his form was overcame by his weaker opponent 9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 2-9, 9-6 in the longest match of the day.
Pakistan suffered second shock when Shahid who was 11th seed faced straight games defeat from Matthew Giuffre of Canada 9-4, 10-8, 10-9 in a 45-minute encounter in the second rounds.
Meanwhile, top seeds David Palmer (Australia) and Peter Nicol (England) enjoyed easy sailing in the last sixteen stages after winning their second round matches.
Palmer outclassed David Evans of Wales 9-2, 9-4, 9-6 while Peter Nicol outwit Rodney Durbach (RSA) 9-5, 9-1, 9-1 in quick time to advance in the next round.
Results
Men’s Singles (First round)
Gavin Jones (WAL) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 2-9, 9-6
Second round
Matthew Giuffre (CAN) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 9-4, 10-8, 10-9.
Table Tennis
Pakistan had a contrasting fortune in the table tennis competition when they first beat Tuvalu but lost to Guyana 3-2 in the second match of the preliminary round.
Although the Pakistanis took a confident start by blanking out Tuvalu 3-0 in first match, they were edged out by Guyana later.
Placed in Group ‘C’, Pakistan now have three points and are at sixth spot above Tuvalu who are at the bottom of the table after losing their three matches.
Group leaders England accumulated six points after winning three matches.—Agencies
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