ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s promising young player Tayyab Aslam failed to take advantage of the home crowd as he was convincingly tamed by Hong Kong’s top seed Leo Au in the semi-final of the Serena Chief of Air Staff Squash Championship at the Mushaf Squash Complex here on Thursday.

The experienced Leo Au, who is world number 20, took 47 minutes to outclass the local boy, in three straight sets (11-9, 11-2 and11-5). In the first set, Tayyab, world number 95, put up good resistance against the far better player. But in the next two sets, Leo Au completely dominated.

In the second semi-final, fifth seed and world number 48, Egypt’s Youssef Soliman registered an upset victory against second seed and world number 41, Nafizwan Adnan from Malaysia (3-1) with a game score of 4-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6. The Egyptian and Malaysian ambassadors also witnessed the semi-finals along with a number of squash enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, in the women’s semi-finals of the Pakistan International Squash Championship, top seed from Egypt, who is world number 31, maintained her supremacy as she took 36 minutes to outclass her compatriot Farida Mohamed (3-1) with a game score of 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6.

While in the second semi-final, second seed Nada Abbas from Egypt, world number 41, defeated Tong Tsz-Wing of Hong Kong, world number 53, with a game score of 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 and 11-9. The match lasted 38 minutes. It is relevant to note here that the men’s championship carries a bumper prize of $30,000 while the women’s championship $10,000 only.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2018