ISLAMABAD: Top seed Tayyab Aslam of Pakistan advanced to the quarter-finals of the Chief of Air Staff-Serene Hotels International Squash Tournament for Men here at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Tuesday.

Tayyab, who had a bye in the first round, overcame compatriot Amaad Fareed 8-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 in the longest second-round match lasting 74 minutes.

In another all-Pakistan clash, Farhan Zaman outlasted sixth-seeded Asim Khan 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2 in 50 minutes.

Tayyab and Farhan will carry local hopes in the last eight after both Farhan Mehboob and Israr Ahmed went down to opponents from Egypt.

Second seed Karim El Hamamy beat Israr 3-11,11-4, 2-11, 11-4, 11-6 in 47 minutes while Farhan Mehboob went down 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13 to fourth-seeded Moustafa El Sirty.

Frenchman Auguste Dussourd, seeded third, cruised past Egypt’s Khaled Labib 15-13, 11-8, 11-7 while a trio of players from Hong Kong, all among the top eight seeds, also advanced.

Fifth seed Max Lee beat compatriot Chi Him Wong 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11, seventh-seeded Henry Leung thrashed Spaniard Hugo Varela 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 and eight seed Tsz Kwan ousted Martin Svec of the Czech Republic 12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 11-5.

In the Serena Hotels-Combaxx Sports International Squash Tournament for Women, top seed Nadia Pfister of Switzerland made easy work of Pakistan’s Rushna Mehboob, winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 to reach the last eight.

French second seed Marie Stephan also enjoyed a romp, beating Pakistan’s Anam Mustafa Aziz 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 while third seed Salma Eltayeb of Egypt crushed Sana Bahader of Pakistan 11-3, 11-2, 11-2.

Fourth seed Nour Aboulmakraim, however, crashed out as she was beaten 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 3-11, 11-2 by Egyptian countrywoman Nadeen Kotb.

There was another upset as local hope Sadia Gul ousted fifth-seeded Jelena Dutina of Serbia by 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7.

Egyptians Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Farah Momen, the sixth and seventh seeds respectively, enjoyed easy wins against local opponents Riffat Khan and Nimra Aqeel.

Eighth seed Noor-ul-Huda, who at eighth is the highest-seeded Pakistani in the draw, advanced when compatriot Komal Khan retired with an injury with the match at 6-11, 11-8, 10-2.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2021