ISLAMABAD Amir Atlas Khan battled in a five-setter with Farhan Mahboob to lift the seventh Chief of Air Staff (COAS) Squash Championship at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Friday.
Atlas, top seed of the championship, built an aggressive momentum in the first game and convincingly sealed the first set 11-7. However, Mahboob upped the tempo in the second set, winning it 8-11.
Despite being slightly jaded, Amir managed to put up a hard fight against the left-handed Mahboob as the score kept swaying between the cousins and the set ended 9-11 in Mahboob's favour.
In the fourth set, Atlas contained Mahboob and fought back with the help of some smashing drop shots, claiming the set 11-8.
Atlas, the defending champion carried on the momentum in the final set, forcing a disgruntled Mahboob to react angrily as Atlas sealed the championship with a final set score of 8-11.
'Frahan played well but I was confident about winning the championship' Atlas said after the match, while speaking to Dawn.
'I changed my strategy after losing the second and third sets, and did not allow Farhan any room,' the champion added.
The top-ranked national player said his next aim is to top the world rankings this year.
Meanwhile, in the girls event Maria Toor thrashed Muqaddas Ashraf to win the final,11-6,11-6,11-4.
Results
Men's final
Aamir Atlas (WAPDA) beat Farhan Mehboob (WAPDA) 11-7,8-11,9-11,11-8,11-8 (52 minutes)
Ladies final
Maria Toor (WAPDA) beat Muqaddas Ashraf (WAPDA) 11-6,11-6,11-4 (16 minutes)
