August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 8: Second seeds Pakistan thrashed top seed Egypt 2-0 in the final to win Men’s Junior Team squash championship in Zurich, Switzerland.

Aamir Atlas Khan, 18, recovered from a game down to overcome top seed Mohamad El Shorbagy 7-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-1 in 48 minutes.

Mohammad Shoaib Hassan snatched another victory for Pakistan by defeating Karim Abdel Gawad 9-5, 9-6, 9-2 in 64 minutes.

With previous title wins in 1982, 2002 and 2004, Pakistan are now celebrating their fourth success — equalling the achievement of England (1990, 1996, 1998 and 2000) but one behind Australia (1980, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1992).

Meanwhile, third seeds England finished third overcoming fifth seed India 2-1 in the third place play-off.

Results (final):

PAKISTAN (2) bt EGYPT (1) 2-0 (Aamir Atlas Khan bt Mohamed El Shorbagy 7-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-1; Mohammad Shoaib Hassan bt Karim Abdel Gawad 9-5, 9-6, 9-2; Waqar Mehboob v Andrew Wagih Shoukry (dead rubber - match not played).—PPI

Our Sports Reporter adds from Islamabad: Squash legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan said winning the team title was not a big achievement, saying individual events matter the most.

Talking to Dawn on Friday, Jahangir said: “It is not a big surprise for me that we have won the team event.

“Winning individual events was most important for us.”

He pointed out: “If you look at the main target of the federation, they want to win individual events but are not making it.”

Jansher, who last won the event in 1996, showed his dismay and said that sending Aamir to the World Junior Championship was nothing but poor planning by the Pakistan Squash Federation.

“Aamir is likely to lose his current world ranking and the next month’s ratings will be very disturbing for him because he appeared in the non-ranking tournament,” he said.

“Aamir should instead be sent to the Malaysian Open and Egyptian tournament, which are ranking events and help him in improving his confidence and world rating,” Jansher concluded.