ISLAMABAD: Tayyab Aslam, the winner of the recently-held South Asian Games, added another feather in his cap on Thursday when he outplayed compatriot Farhan Mehboob in the men’s singles final of the Serena Hotels-Huawei Pakistan International Squash Championship here at the Mushaf Squash Complex.
While Sabrina Sobhy of the US defeated Egypt’s Hana Moataz to clinch the women’s event.
Not allowing his more experienced opponent to settle, the 23-year-old Tayyab won the first game 11-8.
Looking to consolidate his position, Tayyab had to work hard to eventually grab the second game against the 31-year-old Farhan 13-11. Tayyab went on to seize the third game 11-4 which gave the Lahore-born player clinched the prestigious title. The match lasted 40 minutes.
Earlier, the 22-year-old Sobhy overpowered Hana in straight games to claim the women’s title. The American won the match in mere 30 minutes.
After Sobhy won the first game 11-7, Hana came back well in the second game but again the American managed to win the game 11-9. The third game was also fiercely contested and in the end Sobhy prevailed 11-9 to clinch the title.
The men’s event carried a prize purse of $20,000 while women’s event contained $12,000 prize money.
Air Marshal Asim Zaheer, PAF’s Vice Chief of the Air Staff, was the chief guest on the occasion. Squash legend Qamar Zaman and senior PAF officers along with a large number of fans witnessed the finals.
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2019
