KARACHI: In a minor upset, Pakistan’s unseeded Israr Ahmed cruised to victory over Fabien Verseille of France to sneak into second round of the US$20,000 14th CNS International Squash Championship which commenced at the PN Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex on Tuesday.

Israr, who is ranked 152nd in the world, sent Fabien packing 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 in 40-minutes. The French is ranked 120th. The Lahore-based Israr is slated to face top seed Ivan Yuen of Malaysia on Wednesday.

Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Zahid Ilyas formally inaugurated the event. Squash legend Jahangir Khan was also present.

Results (first round): Israr Ahmed (Pakistan) bt Fabien Verseille (France) 11-9, 11-7, 11-6; Moustafa El Sirty (Egypt) bt Zahir Shah (Pakistan) 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3; Omar ElKattan (Egypt) bt Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bokhari (Pakistan) 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3; Addeen Idrakie (Malaysia) bt Matthew Lai (Hong Kong) 4-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3; Danish Atlas Khan (Pakistan) bt Harley Lam (Hong Kong ) 13-11, 11-0, 11-1; Amaad Fareed (Pakistan) bt Shady El Sherbiny (Egypt) 11-7, 12-10, 11-7; Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait) bt Faraz Mohammad (Pakistan) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6; Farhan Zaman (Pakistan) bt Saeed Abdul (Pakistan) 12-10, 11-4, 11-5.

Wednesday’s fixtures (Second round starts at 12noon): Ivan Yuen (Malaysia) vs Israr Ahmed (Pakistan), Moustafa El Sirty (Egypt) vs Chi Him Wong (Hong Kong), Asim Khan (Pakistan) vs Omar ElKattan (Egypt), Addeen Idrakie (Malaysia) vs Mazen Gamal (Egypt); Henry Leung (Hong Kong) vs Danish Atlas Khan (Pakistan), Amaad Fareed (Pakistan) vs Tsz Kwan Lau (Hong Kong), Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) vs Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait), Farhan Zaman (Pakistan) vs Tayyab Aslam (Pakistan).

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020