INCHEON: Pakistan’s prime medal hope in squash Nasir Iqbal advanced to the last eight stage of the Asian Games when he beat host Korea’s player S Y Lee in four games at Yeorumul Squash Courts on Saturday to set a clash with India’s Saurav Ghosal.

In the women’s contest, Pakistan’s Muqqadus Ashraf crashed out in her first match after losing 2-11, 5-11, 4-11 to Japan’s Koba Yashi.

The 20-year-old Nasir, who hails from Bannu region and is ranked 42nd in the world, recovered well after dropping the opening game to beat Lee 6-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 in just over 45 minutes.

Among the women, Pakistan Maria Toor also entered the quarter-final round when she beat Li Dong Gin of China 9-11, 13-11, 11-1,11-2.

Nasir made a sluggish start as Lee taking advantage of the situation seized the opening game with a superb all-round court-craft, nicks and drops. However, Nasir came back with a vengeance and playing spectacular backhand strokes and forceful winners, he devastated the Korean by racing to a 11-1 lead in the second game and grabbed the third 11-6.

Lee gathered his energies to take the match into the fifth game but Nasir kept him under pressure by displaying smart tactical game to win the decider 11-6 to reach the quarter-finals. In a showpiece Indo-Pak event, Nasir Iqbal will now clash with top seeded India Saurav Ghosal for a place in the semi-final on Sunday. Ghosal is ranked 16th in the world.

Nasir’s compatriot Farhan Mehboob crashed out on Saturday after losing his last-16 round matches to Ong Beng Hee of Mala­ysia in three straight games. Farhan offered some fight in the first game before going down to veteran Ong Beng 9-11, 6-11, 3-11.

India’s Saurav Ghosal, who is top-seeded for the championship, also qualified for the last-eight stage by routing Jiaqi Shen of China 11-2, 11-4, 11-3.

Second seed Lee Ho Yin of Hong Kong, third and fourth seed Mohad Adnan Mohd Nafilzwan and Ong Been Hee both from Malaysia also stormed into the quarters after contrasting victories.

Published in Dawn, September 21st , 2014