KARACHI: Nov 24, Pakistan’s last hopes for the Qatar Classic Squash Championship were shattered when two of its top players Shahid Zaman and Carla Khan fell at the first hurdle in Doha on Wednesday evening.

According to details made available, Pakistan number one Shahid, lost to Davide Bianchetti, a qualifier from Italy in the first round of men’s event in an almost one hour contest.

Shahid started off nicely by playing some superb shots and won the first game 11-3.

The top Pakistani lost his rhythm in the following game by making a series of errors and awarded the second game to Davide 11-7.

The Italian took the third game 11-10 (2-0) by winning two points on a tiebreak. Shahid repeated the same story in his favour to level the match 2-2.

However he could not resist in front of Davide’s deadly shots, and lost the decisive game 11-7.

He was Pakistan’s last hope in the US$125,000 competition as all of his countrymen earlier lost in qualifying and main rounds.

Pakistan No2 Mansoor Zaman lost in first round while Yasir Butt, Farhan Mehboob, Aamir Atlas Khan and Abdul Rehman - were knocked out of the first qualifying rounds of the tournament.

Pakistan interest in the women’s event was also disappointing when Pakistan No1 Carla Khan lost to Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong in the opening round.

Rebecca played overwhelmingly gave no chance to her Pakistani opponent, to win the match in straight games 9-4, 9-2, 9-5 in 40 minutes.

Men’s Round One:

Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-10(3-1),11-6,11-8 (55m).

James Willstrop (ENG) bt Simon Parke (ENG) 11-8,11-6,11-9 (40m).

Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 3-11,11-7,11-10(2-0),10-11(0-2),11-7 (62).

Alex Gough (WAL) bt Lee Beachill (ENG) 11-7,13-11,11-9 (50).

Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (45m)

Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (48)

Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-10(4-2), 11-7, 11-9 (51m)

Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Joe Kneipp (AUS) 11-5,11-5,9-11,11-4 (58m).—-Agencies