KARACHI, June 22: Pakistan's No 1 Squash player Mansoor Zaman made his way to the finals after defeating his countryman in the semifinals of Air Asia Asian squash championships on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

According to the details made available, Mansoor will be hoping to prevent a Malaysian double when he faces local favourite Ong Beng Hee in the men's final for the third successive time.

Mansoor repeated Beng Hee's style by dispatching his cousin Shahid Zaman in four games - avenging his recent defeat by the Pakistan No2 with a 6-9 9-2 9-5 9-0 victory.

Second seed Mansoor was runner-up to Beng Hee in the last two Asian championships' finals. But this year the World No19 from Peshawar has the advantage of being ranked ahead of the Malaysian, for the first time in his career.

Malaysia's Sharon Wee achieved a stunning upset in today's women's semifinals, when she came back from a game down to overcome Asian Games champion Rebecca Chiu and set up an all-Malaysian final against title-holder Nicol David.

Chiu, runner-up in the last two events, was seeded to meet favourite Nicol in the women's final. Ranked 19 in the world, the 25-year-old from Hong Kong took the opening game against Wee, ranked nine places below.

But the 26-year-old Malaysian No2 from Malacca, who with David has been training this year with Australian coach Liz Irving in Amsterdam, overcame her nervous start to take control in the next three games to win 4-9 9-7 9-6 9-5.

Nicol booked her fourth consecutive Asian women's final after beating the determined India No1 and British U19 Open runner-up Joshna Chinappa in straight games. Joshna was 8-7 up in the second game but was too nervous to finish the game. Nicol levelled up and took the next two points in one service then went on to win 9-3 10-8 9-4.

Top seed Ong Beng Hee looks good for a hat trick of titles. After a gruelling 40-minute first game, which was won by underdog Mohammed Azlan Iskandar, the Malaysian No2 was a spent force. Beng Hee wrapped up the match in double quick time, taking the next three games for the loss of just five points to win 7-9 9-2 9-2 9-1.

Results:

Men's semifinal: Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Moh'd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 7-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-1; Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 6-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-0

Women's semifinal:

Nicol David (MAS) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 9-3, 10-8, 9-4 Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 4-9, 9-7, 9-6, 9-5. -PPI