June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 9: Top-seed Aamir Atlas Khan won the 19th Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Championship by defeating Farhan Mehboob 3-1 in the final at the Mushaf Squash Complex here on Monday.

The championship carried US $30,000 prize money.

The first game was played neck and neck as the scores tied at 2-2, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6. However, it turned in favour of Aamir when the score was 9-6 as Farhan hit the 17-inch tin and lost it 11-6.

Farhan started the second game aggressively with some good drop shots and back-hand shots getting four-point lead (6-2), but Aamir ended the deficit with four quick points. Both the players struggled hard to take the lead as the game moved from 7-6, 8-6 to 8-7 and tied again at 8-8.

The rivalry to take lead took the score to 13-13, however, Aamir, the defending champion, won it 15-13.

The third game at one stage tied at 5-5 when Farhan played his most forceful shots to lift it 11-6.

Aamir took 7-3 lead from the beginning in the fourth game and ultimately won it 11-7.

The final was played over 49 minutes. After winning the championship, Aamir told Dawn that the win would improve his international ranking.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, also Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president, gave away trophies to the finalists.

The PSF president also awarded cash prizes amounting to Rs200,000 to the winner and Rs150,000 to the runner-up.

He also awarded Rs100,000 to the national coach Fahim Gul.