KARACHI, July 20: There were no surprises in the pre-qualifying rounds of Pakistan Open squash championship which got under way at the PN Roshan-Jahangir squash complex on Wednesday.

Punjab’s Muhammad Naveed overcame a stiff challenge from Sindh’s Zohaib Ahmed in the only match that went to full distance before romping home.

The former won 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 10-11, 11-2 in 26 minute battle.

The pre–qualifiers conclude on Thursday with top eight joining the fray of 24 players in the two-day qualifying rounds which are being played at the same venue from July 22.

Following were the results:

Khurram Shehzad (Pun) bt Naveed Zaffar (Pun) 11-0, 11-1, 11-3; M Naeem (Sindh) bt Mahad Javed (Sindh) 11-6, 11-1, 11-9; M Naveed (Pun) bt Zohaib Ahmed (Sindh) 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 10-11, 11-12; Asif Khan (Sindh) bt Faizan Nawaz (Pun) 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6; Jahanzeb Masood (Sindh) bt Mohibullah (Sindh) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8; Shahroze Khan (Sindh) bt Zaki Muneeb (Sindh) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4; Mohibullah (Sindh) bt Bilal Sher (Sindh)11-4, 11-2; Farhan Sharif (Sindh) bt Yasir Sabir (Sindh)11-6, 11-1 ;Mahad Javed (Sindh) bt Saad Shahid (Sindh)11-2, 11-3; Najeebullah (Sindh) bt Zeeshan Khan (Sindh)11-5, 11-3; Jahangir Khan (Sindh) bt Fahad Kakar (Sindh)11-8, 11-4; Farzan Rashid (Pun) bt Farhan Sharif (Sindh)11-0, 11-2; Khurram Shahzad (Sindh) bt Mohammad Ali (Bal) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8; Attique Butt (Pun) bt M Hussain (Bal)11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8; Ubaid Jahan (Bal) bt Azam Khan (Sindh 11-10, 10-11, 11-8, 11-3; Kashif Khan (Sindh) bt Mohammad Qasim (Sindh) 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8; Alamzeb Jr bt Ashfaq Hussain (Sindh)11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5; Naveed Alam (Sindh) bt Najeebullah (Sindh)11-10, 11-7, 11-2; Pir Usman (Bal) bt Noor Zaman (Sindh) 11-7, 10-11, 11-5, 11-3; Aqib Hanif (Pun) bt Kalimullah (Bal)11-3, 11-9, 11-1.

APP adds: Dylan Bennet

from the Netherlands and Bradley Hindle from Australia have arrived to feature in the qualifying rounds of Pakistan Open.

Dylan ranked 76th in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) arrived on Wednesday while Bradley Hindle, who is placed 87th in PSA ranking landed on Tuesday.

Secretary Pakistan Squash Federation, Wng. Cdr. Zulfiqar Ahmed said Linda Davie, Vice-President British Squash Federation, and Chris Sinclair of Australia also arrived for the event.

He said Davie is visiting as special guest of PSF while Sinclair is an assessment referee for the event.