LONDON, July 31: Pakistan’s top seed Aamir Atlas Khan and compatriot Waqar Mehboob secured places in the semi-final of the World Junior Squash Championship in contrasting styles here on Thursday.

Waqar upset fourth-seeded Frenchman Gregoire Marche in the quarter-finals to reach the last four. The 16-year-old reigning Pakistan Junior champion from Peshawar battled for 74 minutes to overcome the 18-year-old European junior champion by 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-0.

In a semifinal match that will ensure the first Pakistani finalist since 2004, Waqar in his maiden appearance in the event will take on Aamir Atlas who celebrated his 18th birthday in style by beating Egyptian Andrew Wagih Shoukry 9-1, 9-5, 9-0 in 36 minutes. The other semi-final will pitch local hero Nicolas Mueller, the third seed, against Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, the No 2 seed. Mueller arrived at the event following successive European Squash Federation Junior Circuit victories in the German Open, the Pioneer Open and the Dutch Open.

But the 18-year-old from Hirzel dropped his first game of the championship in overcoming England’s seeded Adrian Waller 9-5, 4-9, 9-3, 9-2 in 58 minutes. The result ended English interest in the event - and also ended Waller’s run of three successive straight games defeats by Switzerland ‘s former European Junior champion.

Mohamed El Shorbagy, a 17-year-old from Alexandria who is yet to drop a game in the event, brushed aside Malaysia’s Ivan Yuen, winning 9-3, 9-5, 9-1 in 30 minutes.

Results:

Quarter-finals: Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 9-1, 9-5, 9-0; Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-0; Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 9-5, 4-9, 9-3, 9-2; Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 9-3, 9-5, 9-1.—APP