KARACHI: Ahead of the CNS International Squash Championship, top seed Todd Harrity had spoken of his desire to win the title.

The American made a statement of his intent on Wednesday with a 19-minute romp past local hope Farhan Zaman, cruising into the third round with a 12-10, 11-5, 11-2 win.

On the other side of the draw, second seed Tayyab Aslam brushed aside Pakistani compatriot Ammad Fareed 11-6, 12-10, 11-5.

For a place in the semi-finals, Harrity will face another local hope Asim Khan. The eighth-seeded Asim was made to work before he finished off Shehab Essam of Egypt 6-11, 11-1, 7-11, 13-11, 11-1 in an hour.

The top eight seeds had all enjoyed byes into the second round and all of them prevailed on Wednesday.

Sixth seed Henry Leung of Hong Kong set up a quarter-final against Tayyab over he won 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 against Ammar Altamimi of Kuwait.

In an all-Hong Kong clash, third seed Tsz Fung Yip overcame Max Lee 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 11-2. He will next face Egyptian fifth seed Yahya Elnawasany who beat Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.

Fourth-seeded Egyptian Moustafa El Sirty, who won the CAS International in Islamabad last month, eased past countryman Khaled Labib 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

His third-round opponent is seventh-seeded Tsz Kwan Lau, who needed 50 minutes beat Chi Him Wong 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9 in another all-Hong Kong encounter.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2021