HONG KONG, Aug 28: Canada’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jonathon Power moved smoothly into the third round of the Hong Kong Open squash tournament with a flawless win over Paul Johnson of England, here Wednesday.

An electric Power sped past a hapless Johnson, winning 15-7, 15-7, 15-6 to add further credibility to his current status as the hottest player on the professional circuit.

Picked as the player to beat by his peers, Power has won four tournaments in 2002 including the gold medal at the Manchester Games last month where he defeated arch-rival Peter Nicol of England in the final.

And true to form, Power blitzed Johnson in 39 minutes to waltz into the second round.

Last year the Canadian had to pull out on the eve of the competition and was rushed to hospital suffering from acute tonsilitis and a bad bout of food poisoning.

There were no bugs to be seen, Wednesday, as Power took the first step towards an expected showdown with Nicol in the final.

In other first round matches, France’s world number four Thierry Lincou defeated Australian qualifier Dan Jenson 15-6, 15-13, 15-8. Lincou, runner-up last year, is seeded to meet Power in the quarterfinals.

“It will be tough as I have never beaten him before. But it was in Hong Kong last year that everything started for me and I hope to go one better this time,” said Lincou.

Australian Anthony Ricketts also advanced into the second round with a 15-5, 13-15, 15-7, 15-11 win over Belgian qualifier Stefan Casteleyn while Egypt’s Amr Shabana held his nerve to beat Finn Olli Tuominen 15-12, 9-15, 8-15, 15-11, 15-8 in a 74-minute battle.

Palmer, meanwhile, overcame Pakistan’s Shahid Zaman in straight games 15-5, 15-10, 15-12.

Results:

Second round: Anthony Ricketts (Australia) beat Stefan Casteleyn (Belgium) 15-5, 13-15, 15-7, 15-11; Thierry Lincou (France) beat Dan Jenson (Australia) 15-6, 15-13, 15-8; Mark Chaloner (England) beat Renan Lavigne (France) 15-7, 15-12, 9-15, 15-13; Jonathon Power (Canada) beat Paul Johnson (England) 15-7, 15-7, 15-6; Amr Shabana (Egypt) beat Olli Tuominen (Finland) 15-9, 12-15, 8-15, 15-11, 15-8; David Palmer (Australia) beat Shahid Zaman (Pakistan) 15-5, 15-10, 15-12.—AFP