ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: It was an all-Pakistan affair as upcoming star, Aamir Atlas Khan, stunned compatriot Farhan Mehboob 3-1 in the Pakistan Open final played at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Friday.
Top seed Farhan, who had earlier defeated Safeerullah in the semi-final, won the opening game of the final 8-11.
However, second seed, Aamir regained his composure to dominate the second game, focusing hard on Farhan’s failure to pick up some easy drop shots.
Both the players displayed good technique as the game moved on 4-4, 5-5, 7-7. Aamir stood his ground eventually overcoming his opponent 11-7.
During the third game the match was stopped twice due to slippery court with the score 5-6.
Farhan struggled to contain Aamir’s backhand drops and volley drop shots but failed to make an impression.
At a point when the score was 9-5 and Aamir was about to earn a game point, Farhan struck his racket against the glass and the match referee warned him for ‘racket abuse’.
Aamir took full advantage of Farhan’s lack of focus, winning easily 11-5.
The winner put up a superb performance as Farhan showed no resistance even at the game point in the fourth game.
The second seed won the last game 11-5 as Farhan hit the ball at the 17-inch tin in the 52-minute decider.
Aamir remarked: “I was confident and more focused than Farhan and played a tight game against him.”
Farhan stated: “The court was slippery from the front and this made an impact on my movement.”
Meanwhile, in the women’s final, Heba Eltorky of Egypt claimed the title confidently, ousting her opponent top seed Christina Mak from Hong Kong in straight games 3-0 in barely 29 minutes.
Heba exhibited good speed and skill to take the first game 11-7.
In the second game Christina fought hard to make a comeback as the game moved 2-2, 3-3, 5-5. However, Heba took the second game 11-8.
Christina opened the third game, gaining two easy points. But the energetic Heba bounced back hard and levelled the game 3-3 and continued her winning streak, ending the the decider 11-9.
Meanwhile, the chief guest of Pakistan Open Squash Championship Minister for Defence Ahmed Mukhtar announced Rs2 million for the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF). PSF President Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed also graced the occasion.