ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s last remaining hope and top seed Tayyab Aslam fought for an hour but couldn’t get past Frenchman Auguste Dussourd in an enthralling semi-final of the CAS-Serena Hotels International Squash Tournament for Men at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Thursday.

Dussourd, the third seed, prevailed 11-9, 11-9. 9-11, 3-11, 11-4 after Tayyab had raised hopes of home fans of a comeback victory to set up a final against Egyptian fourth seed Moustafa El Sirty who tamed Hong Kong’s Henry Leung 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5.

Dussourd had edged the first two games but Tayyab, ranked 14 ranked places higher than his opponent, showed his resolve with volleys and drop shots to take the match to a deciding game where his resistance came to an end.

El Sirty had also fallen behind, losing the first set, but once the Egyptian found his range, Leung was no match.

There will be another France-Egypt clash in the final of the Serena Hotels-Combaxx Sports International Squash Tourn­ament for Women after Marie Stephan and Salma Eltayab advanced.

Stephan overcame Egypt’s Nadeen Kotb 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 in their semi-final while Eltayab won an all-Egyptian last-four clash against Fayrouz Aboelkheir 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021