LAHORE: It was a day of mixed fortunes for Pakistanis at the start of the FMC International Men’s Squash Championship as three of them lost to Hong Kong rivals while an equal number defeated their compatriots at the Punjab Squash Complex here on Monday.

Mohammad Farhan was blown off his feet by Hong Kong’s TSZ Kwan Lau in just 20 minutes, losing 11-4, 11-7, 11-7.

Wildcard entrant Haris Qasim also failed to show his potential as he was outclassed by Chi Him Wong 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 in 28 minutes, while Khawaja Adil Maqbool was shown the doors by Tang Ming Hong in an 18-minute match, going down with a scoreline of 12-10, 11-5, 11-1, 11-3.

In the all-Pakistan contest, Ammad Fareed fought hard for 50 minutes before seeing off Zeeshan Khan 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8.

Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bukhari also struggled in a five-game encounter before defeating Zahir Shah 9-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-1, 11-8 in 44 minutes.

Israr Ahmed had easy sailing against Abdul Malik Khan winning 14-12, 11-5, 11-6 in 24 minutes.

Henry Leung of Hong Kong fought a marathon battle, lasting 80 minutes as he tamed Malaysia’s Addeen Idrakie 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7. England’s Robert Downer took 60 minutes to down his German opponent Yannik Omlor 11-9, 11-4, 5-11, 7-11, 11-4.

A great number of spectators watched the first day’s action as foreign players have come to Lahore after yawning gap of 16 years to participate in the squash event.

On Tuesday, the second round matches will be played at the same venue, and then quarter-finals will be staged in the four-glass court installed at a local hotel.

All the foreign players, while talking to media, were happy to be playing in Lahore and were satisfied with the security arrangements at the venue.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018