Karachi Farhan Mehboob claimed the 9th CNS Squash International Championship 2008 title after overcoming Aamir Atlas Khan in the final of US$25,000 PSA Tour event here Thursday at PN Roshan Khan Jhangir Khan Squash Complex.

Farhan and Aamir recently leaped in the PSA World Rankings and their appearance in the final of the tournament will give further boost to their rankings. Farhan has jumped two places up to occupy 27th spot while cousin Aamir Atlas has climbed three places and is now ranked 31st in the world circuit.

The nephews of squash legend Jansher Khan fought for 78 minutes to settle who will be taking the trophy back home.

18-year-old Aamir started the match with an upper hand and won the first set 11-7 to take the lead. But Farhan in the second set equalized the score-line winning the game by 11-8 score-line.

20-year-old Farhan in the third game took 3-0 lead but Aamir made a strong come-back in the game and annexed the set to his name winning it 11-7. Farhan in the fourth set again took 3-0 lead but Aamir again came back to catch Farhan at 5-4. But this time Farhan played well to keep Aamir at bay and won the set 11-6 to equalize the score-line 2/2.

In the fifth and decisive set, Aamir took the first point but Farhan started displaying some wonderful skills took a 4-1 lead. But Aamir was in no mood to let the match go off his hands so easily and bounced back to take a 6-4 lead.

The game locked at 7-7 score-line giving much amusement to the spectators with the match well poised. But the experienced Farhan gave no chance to cousin Aamir to capitalize against him and eventually won the decisive set 11-7 to claim the title after a marathon five-set encounter.

Later, Chief of Naval Staff Noman Bashir presented the winners trophy to Farhan Mehboob and runners up trophy to Aamir Atlas Khan along with the prize money.