Safeer, Atlas in semis

Published January 6, 2003

ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Pakistani players continued to march on majestically in the Junior British Open Squash Championship in Sheffield, Safeer Khan and Khalid Atlas leading the way by qualifying for the under-19 semifinals.

In the under-17 category, Yasir Butt and Farhan Mahboob also made the last four while Farzan Rashid entered the semis of the under-15s in which Zahir Shah was beaten by an Egyptian rival.

Safeer defeated Ashley Flathers of Yorkshire 9-4, 4-9, 9-4, 9-5 in his quarterfinal and Khalid Atlas beat country-fellow Shah Nawaz 9-7, 9-4, 10-9.

Yasir downed Joel Hinds of Derbyshire 9-2, 9-0, 9-3 while Farhan dropped a game against Ahmad Gamal Swaify of Egypt before winning 9-1, 7-9, 9-2, 9-4.

Farzan’s quarterfinal victim in the under-15 category was also an Egyptian, Mohamed Farid whom he outplayed 9-5, 9-3, 9-1. Zahir however went down to Mohd Aly Anwar of Egypt 2-9, 6-9, 2-9.

Results: Under-19 quarterfinals: Safeer Khan bt Ashley Flathers (Yorkshire) 9-4, 4-9, 9-4, 9-5, Khalid Atlas bt Shah Nawaz 9-7, 9-4, 10-9.

Under-17 quarterfinals: Yasir Butt bt Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) 9-2, 9-0, 9-3, Farhan Mahboob bt Ahmad Gamal Swaify (Egy) 9-1, 7-9, 9-2, 9-4.

Under-15 third round: Zahir Shah bt Harry Beeston (Surrey) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0, Farzan Rashid bt Haithan Effat (Egy) 9-3, 9-2, 7- 9, 9-4, Oliver Pett (Sussex) walkover Alamzeb

Under-15 quarterfinals: Mohd Aly Anwar (Egy) bt Zahir Shah 2- 9, 6-9, 2-9, Farzan Rashid bt Mohamed Farid 9-5, 9-3, 9-1.

Under-13 second round: Adnan Khan bt Charles Sharpes (Staffordshire) 9-1, 9-1, 9-1, AMir Atlas bt Islam El Khalid (Egy) 9-2, 9-2, 9-2.

Under-13 third round: Adnan Khan bt Bassen Ezz El Din (Egy) 9-2, 9-3, 9-3, Amir Atlas bt Chen Ming Au (Hong Kong) 9-0, 9-1, 9-0.