KARACHI, March 22: Decline of Pakistan’s squash continued in the Commonwealth Games when last hopes for a medal in the game — Aamir Atlas Khan and Khayal Mohammad Khan — fell in their first match of doubles event. After a rest day following the singles finals, game’s squash action turned to doubles as competition for further sets of medals in the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles got underway on Wednesday at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
According to details made available here, the 10th seeded Pakistani duo was outwitted by third seed Australian pair of Dan Jenson and David Palmer in straight games in 35-minute action with the score 9-4, 9-4, 9-4.
Earlier, top two Pakistani players Shahid Zaman and Mansoor Zaman also produced frustrating results when they were ousted from the singles event in their very first matches.
Results: Pool 3: Dan Jenson/David Palmer (AUS) bt Aamir Atlas Khan/Khayal Mohammad Khan (PAK) 9-4, 9-4, 9-4 (35m)
SAJJAD FINISHES FIFTH
Pakistan’s hopes of claiming their third weightlifting medal were dashed when fancied Sajjad Amin Malik finished fifth in the 105kgs contest.
Sajjad tipped as a strong contender for at least winning a bronze was out of contention when he failed to lift the weight of 185kgs in his third attempt, leaving the massive weight at the platform after finding his arms weaker for a start.
His cousin Shujuddin Malik created history by winning country’s first ever weightlifting gold and establishing a record in 85kgs.
Pakistan got a bronze in weightlifting through Mohammad Irfan in the 77kgs.
Men’s 105kg
1. Akos Sandor (CAN) 341; 2. Valeriane Sarava (AUS) 333; 3. Che Mohd Che Mat (MAS) 330; 4. Gurbinder Cheema (ENG) 330; 5. Sajjad Malik (PAK) 328.
Bushra, ARSHAD FLOP
Bushra Parveen was beaten in the heats of women’s 800m here on Wednesday. She returned a poor time of 2m:12:54sec to finish last in the race.
Earlier Pakistani shooter Ali Arshad finished 18th of 20 participants, in the mens 10m air pistol.
Later, Pakistan’s Farjad Saif/Ghalia Khurshed crashed out of the table tennis mixed doubles contest after they lost in the second round on Wednesday.
England’s Andrew Baggaley/ Georgina Walker proved too strong for the Pakistan duo to win in three straight sets 14-12, 11-7, 11-7.
Earlier, the Pakistani combination dropped the second but but went on to down Maldives Ismail Shahid/Mueena Mohamed 11-4 12-10 7-11 7-11 11-5.—Agencies
