KARACHI, Dec 12: Pakistan’s Aijaz Azmat reached the main rounds of the $22,000 prize Malaysian Open squash after winning both his qualifying matches, reports from Kuala Lumpur said Wednesday.

The main rounds of the Open begins Wednesday with Pakistan’s Shahid Zaman taking on Malaysian Azlan Iskander.

Pakistan’s second player in the main rounds, Farrukh Zaman lost to Belgian player Peter Pastijn Tuesday. Three Australians - Mike Corren, Cameron White and Raj Nanda - and Pakistani Aijaz Azmat booked their berths in the tournament’s main rounds from the two rounds of the qualifying stages.

Azmat, Pakistan number four, beat Fabian Kalaitzis Greece 15-6, 15-6, 17-16 after getting the better of Malaysian player Timothy Arnold 15-4, 15-10, 15-7.

Shahid Zaman is the seventh seed in the Open with Malaysian Oong Bang Hee entering the event as defending champion. Shahid plays Malaysian Azlan Iskander in the first round.

Qualifying second round: Mike Corren (Aus) bt Gavin Jones (Wal) 7-15, 15-8, 15-4, 15-14; Cameron White (Aus) bt Jago Nardelli (Eng) 15-6, 18-8, 15-5; Raj Nanda (Aus) bt Peter Pastijn (Bel) 15-8, 11-15, 15-11, 15-1; Aijaz Azmat (Pak) bt Fabian Kalaitzis (Gre) 15-6, 15-6, 17-16. —SADA