ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Safeer Khan defeated Yasir Butt Wednesday in a clash of the junior British Open champions at the start of the qualifying rounds of the COAS International Squash Championship.

Winner of the under-19 crown at the tournament in Sheffield, Safeer needed 35 minutes to thwart the challenge of Yasir, the under-17 champion there, 17-16, 15-9, 15-7.

Other victor in the competition being held at the Roshan Khan courts was Khayal Muhammad who beat Naveed Atlas 13-15, 15-8, 17- 14, 15-7 after being on court for an hour.

Farhan Mahboob had to spend as much time in overpowering a fighting Saeed Hasan 15-11, 13-15, 15-6, 7-15, 17-16 but Khalid Atlas needed only 14 minutes to brush aside Farhan Mobeen 15-4, 15-7, 15-6.

Majid Khan, Arshad Iqbal Burki, Muhammad Ilyas and Samsul Islam were all given byes.