KARACHI, Jan 4: Pakistan’s promising youngster Aamir Atlas Khan cruised into the U-19 semi-final of British Open Junior Squash Championships, outclassing England’s Oliver Pitt in the quarter-final on Thursday in Sheffield.

Aamir, Pakistan’s top seed, maintained his form to dispatch Pitt 9-5, 9-1, 9-3 in 31 minutes. Earlier, Aamir crushed Alistair Mutch of Wales 9-6, 9-0, 9-2 in his route to the last-eight stage.

In the same event, another Pakistani Farzan Rasheed advanced to the next stage after overcoming Tom Pashley of Sussex who retired after conceding an 8-10, 1-5 lead to the former in the third round.

Waqar Mahboob kept his country’s hopes alive in the men’s U-17 event when he outplayed Protease Wivian Louwerns 9-1, 9-1, 9-5 in the third round after his compatriot Raza Mahboob fell victim to Egypt’s Mohammad El Shorbagy 7-9, 0-9, 1-9 at the same stage.

Pakistan's interest in the women’s event ended when the country's only surviving Maria Toor succumbed to Victoria Bell of Cumbria in the second round.

The men’s U-15 second rounds saw desirable results for Pakistan as four of the countrymen including Danish Atlas, Nousherwan, Aurangzeb and Ovais Khan advanced after winning their matches.

Arbab Dilawar was the only Pakistani who crashed out of the event after falling to his Indian rival Aditya Jagtap in straight sets.

Nasir Iqbal, Naimatullah Khan and Bilal Zakir were the other Pakistanis who won their respective second-round games in the U-13 competition.

Results:

Men’s U-19 (quarter-finals) Aamir Atlas (Pakistan) bt Oliver Pitt (England) 9-5, 9-1, 9-3; (third round) Farzan Rasheed bt Tom Pashley (England) 10-8, 5-1 (retd).

Men’s U-17 (third round) Mohammad El Shorbagy (Egypt) bt Raza Raqoob 9-7, 9-0, 9-1; Waqar Mahboob bt Wian Louwerns (South Africa) 9-1, 9-2, 9-5.

Women's U-17 (second round) Victoria (England) bt Maria Toor (Pakistan) 3-9, 9-2, 3-9, 4-9.

Men's U-15 (second round) Danish Atlas (Pakistan) bt Marcus Yeun (Malaysia) 9-2, 9-3, 9-6; Nousherwan (Pakistan) bt Adam Engel (Canada) 9-4, 9-3, 9-4; Aurangzeb (Pakistan) bt Miled Ramirez (Mexico) 4-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-7; Ovais Khan (Pakistan) bt James Earles (England) 9-5, 9-6, 9-1; Aditya Jagtap (India) bt Arbab Dilawar (Pakistan) 9-5, 9-1, 9-6.

Men's U-13 (second round) Nasir Iqbal (Pakistan) bt Rishi Tandon (India) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0; Naimatullah (Pakistan) bt Osama Khaled (Egypt) 9-10, 10-9, 9-3, 9-5; Bilal Zakir (Pakistan) bt Brian Harvey (England) 9-3, 9-1, 9-0.—Agencies