ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: Shamsul Islam Khan and Muhammad Ilyas checked into the main round of the $25,000 COAS International Squash Championship Thursday with contrasting victories over their rivals.

Also making the main draw starting Friday were Majid Khan and Khayal Muhammad, both of whom had to work hard in overcoming their opponents on the courts of the Roshan Khan Complex.

Ranked 59 in the world, Shams needed just over half an hour in knocking out Khalid Atlas 15-5, 15-13, 15-10 to earn a clash Friday with Egypt’s Mohamed Essam A. Hafiz, No. 42 on the ladder.

Ilyas, world No. 75, however dropped a game in his match against the newly crowned under-19 Junior British Open champion, Safeerullah Khan before winning 12-15, 15-6, 15-3, 15-7 in 40 minutes. He will up against country-fellow Shahid Zaman, No 29, on the opening day.

Majid Khan had a difficult passage through, having to go the distance against Farhan Mahboob in a 76-minute marathon. His 13- 15, 15-9, 15-13, 14-15, 15-11 win put him in a clash with tournament’s Egyptian top seed, Karim Darwesh, world No 13.

While it was tough for Majid, it wasn’t easy for Khayal either. He had to be on court for a good 50 minutes to snuff the challenge of Arshad Iqbal Burki 15-11, 15-10, 15-13 in what was a hard-fought match. Khayal’s opponent Friday will be world No 24, Omar Elborossy of Egypt.

Friday’s fixtures (main round): Karim Darwesh (Egy) v Majid Khan (Pak), John Williams (Aus) v Amjad Khan (Pak), Omar Elborossy (Egy) v Khayal Muhammad (Pak), Mohamed Essam A. Hafiz (Egy) v Shamsul Islam (Pak), Farrukh Zaman (Pak) v Muhammad Azlan Iskander (Mal), Muhammad Ilyas (Pak) v Shahid Zaman (Pak), Zubair Ali Khan (Pak) v Muhammad Abbas (Egy), Ijaz Azmat (Pak) v Mansoor Zaman (Pak).