ISLAMABAD: World No. 28 Omar Abdel Meguid of Egypt clinched the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Championship as he defeated Pakistan’s Aamir Atlas Khan in a five-set thriller at the Mushaf Squash Complex here on Thursday.

The pulsating contest lasting 68 minutes also saw Aamir suffer a shoulder injury when the visiting player hit him with his racquet.

The packed crowd at the Squash Complex got tense when the score was 11-all in the final game with both finalists being only two strokes away from their destination of clinching the trophy. Eventually, the visiting Egyptian won the fifth and final game 13-11.

Earlier, Aamir remained dominant in the first two games. Both players took careful start going neck and neck at 3-3 and 5-5 in the first game but Aamir showed his skills to win the game 11-6.

Then in the second game too, Aamir by playing superb drop shorts and powerful forehand drives kept his opponent disturbed and won the set 11-6.

Meguid, however, made a strong comeback in third set winning it with significant margin of 11-4. Then in the fourth set he kept his opponent under pressure by playing tricky shorts with the Egyptian securing the game 11-5.

In the final set, Aamir made a good comeback and gave his Egyptian rival tough time but Meguid was finally able to beat Aamir.

“I’m very much happy for winning the title,” said Meguid adding that he was very much satisfied with arrangements of the tournament.

To a query, he said that he would write an email to the Professional Squash Association, requesting it to give more international tournaments to Pakistan. “I’m enjoying here. This is safe and secure country,” the 26-year-old Egyptian further said.

Squash legend Geoff Hunt of Australia watches the final.—photo by KA

Speaking to Dawn, Aamir said that his shoulder injury kept him disturbed at a crucial stage that resulted in his defeat. “In the final set when the score was 11 all, I was feeling pain in my shoulder which eventually diverted my attention that resulted in my defeat,” he remarked.

Former world champion Jansher Khan while talking to Dawn also expressed his views, saying: “I was expecting that Aamir will win in straight games. After winning first two games, he was in a great position to lift the trophy but he made some mistakes in the third game that helped the Egyptian make a comeback.”

The squash legend, however, said that it was the best match and both players deserved appreciation.

“It was a good encounter. Both players were in fine touch,” said former world champion Geoff Hunt of Australia while stating that Aamir played aggressively but later on he got tired that contributed to his defeat.

It is relevant to note that the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) ignored Aamir for the recently-concluded Asian Games where Pakistan in both individual and team events performed poorly. Aamir’s brilliant performance in the event has proved PSF’s decision wrong.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who is also the PSF President, was the chief guest on the occasion who awarded trophies to the players.

Diplomats, Hunt, Qamar Zaman and Jansher along with a large number of squash lovers, including students, watched the final.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said it was a matter of satisfaction that international squash had returned to Pakistan after a lapse of seven years, adding that the PSF will continue to promote squash in the country.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014