Farhan and Zoya retain squash titles

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Zoya Khalid lived up to her top billing imposing 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Rushna Mehboob to retain the girls U-19 title.—File p
Zoya Khalid lived up to her top billing imposing 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Rushna Mehboob to retain the girls U-19 title.—File photo
KARACHI Fourth seed Farhan Zaman of the Navy survived a scare when he whipped second seeded Waqas Mehboob (NWFP) in five games to retain boys U-19 crown in the second PST Roshan Khan Junior Open squash championship at the PN Roshan-Jahangir Squash Complex on Thursday.

Farhan, 18, who stunned top seed Shaikh Saquib (Punjab) in the pre-final on Wednesday, registered 11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 8-11, 11-9 victory over his opponent which lasted 39 minutes.

Similarly, defending champion and top seed Zoya Khalid lived up to her top billing imposing 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over second seed Rushna Mehboob in all-ZTBL final to retain the girls U-19 title.

Nasir Iqbal of the PAF took 20 minutes to overcome NWFP's Salman Mohib 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 to claim boys U-17 title. He had won the boys U-15 title in the inaugural edition.

Prodigy Bilal Zakir (PAF), the second seed, dropped second game while chalking up 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 victory over top seed Ali Bokhari (Punjab) to grab boys U-15 title.

Israr Ahmed (Punjab) and Ahsan Ayaz (PAF) annexed the boys U-13 and U-11 titles respectively.

The girls U-15 title went to PAF's Saadia Gul who edged past Sindh's Faiza Zaffar 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7 in the final.

At the outset, Farhan seized a commendable 2-0 lead over Waqas in the best of five final taking the first and second games 11-9, 11-9 in seven minutes apiece but was not convincing as he faltered by hitting the tin time and again and saw the lead slipped from his hands. He led 6-1 in the first game.


However, Waqas took advantage of his opponents' unforced errors and minimised the lead. He drew level at 9-9 before Farhan won the opener 11-9. Similarly, both were tied 6-6 and 9-9 in the second before Farhan consolidate his position winning 11-9.


Waqas, who won the boys U-17 crown in the inaugural event, fought back with vengeance and neutralised the lead taking the next two games 13-11 in 10 minutes and 11-8 in seven minutes.


Farhan, however, opened the fifth and deciding game in convincing fashion and surged to 6-0 lead before wrapping up the game 11-9 in eight minutes.


Farhan received a purse of Rs15,200 and winners trophy while Waqas took home Rs10,400 and runners up trophy from Sindh Sports Minister Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah.


Squash Legend Jahangir Khan and PST's Muhammad Azhar Dean were also present. The PST had lent a financial support of Rs0.5 million as main sponsor of the event.


Results

Boys U-19 final Farhan Zaman (Navy) bt Waqas Mehboob (NWFP) 11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 8-11, 11-9.

Boys U-17 final Nasir Iqbal (PAF) bt Salman Mohib (NWFP) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2.

Boys U-15 final Bilal Zakir (PAF) bt Ali Bokhari (Punjab) 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10.

Boys U-13 final Israr Ahmed (Punjab) bt Zeeshan Khan (PAF) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9.

Boys U-11 final Ahsan Ayaz (PAF) bt Sumaid Rashid (Punjab) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

Girls U-19 final Zoya Khalid (ZTBL) bt Rushna Mehboob (ZTBL) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7.

Girls U-15 final Saadia Gul (PAF) bt Faiza Zaffar (Sindh) 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7.

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