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Amjad Khan Makes Triumphant Return to the World Squash Stage
by
Ron Beck © 2002 SquashTalk News, (with materials from APP).
March 23, 2002 © 2002 may not be reproduced without express permission.
[Pakistan
Open Draw] [Walkers
Report] [Friday
Results]
Amr Shabana Upsets World
No 6 Stewart Boswell
World number 32nd,
Egyptian Amr Shabana caused the first major upset of the Bank Alfalah Pakistan
Open Squash tournament defeating world number six Australian Stewart Boswell
in straight games 15-9,15-11,15-11 and moved into the next round at Punjab
Squash Association courts here Saturday.
Amr proved too sharp for Boswell in a 48 minutes match in which he always seemed in control with his calculated shots and superior match plan. The Australian made some hard working efforts for a come back anticipating a couple of cross court shots laced with twisting shots in the corners but all that proved late as Egyptian kept his cool and countered all the attacking moves playing skilful shots at his will.
This is a very disappointing outing for the world #5, who recently was finalist in November's YMG classic and is trying to estabish himself as a winning contender in the premier PSA events.
 |
| No Unauthorized Guests Were Going to Get into Today's Matches (photo by Chris Walker © 2002 SquashTalk) |
Amjad's Happy Return
But the big news, as far as Pakistani's squash fans are concerned, is the
great showing put on this evening at Fortress Stadium, under the lights, by
Amjad Khan.
 |
| Amjad (PSA photo) |
Amjad, a popular player on the PSA tour, reached a career best #12 ranking in the fall of 1999, but struggled more recently as he often expressed the feeling that he was isolated on tour. Now, on his way back to fitness after a nagging hamstring injury, Amjad has rewarded the faith the Pakistan squash establishment showed in providing him a valuable wild-card into this event.
In downing world #14 Alex Gough today, Amjad, currently ranked a lowly #50, has truly shown once again his world-class potential. Gough, a perennial quarterfinalist in the past year, and a very steady and aggressive competitor, couldn't handle Amjad's energy, pride, and grit today. Amjad, who noticeably was contending with a minor ankle injury in the last two games, powered through with a determination that seemed somehow lacking in some of his pro-forma appearances through 2000.
Ong Beng Hee Advances
with Little Effort
In the other three matches played at PSA Courts, World no 13 Australian Paul
Johnson and world no 15 English player Del Harris won their respective matches
after fighting four games each. World no 7 ,Malaysian Ong Beng Hee won the
match after a incomplete first game against Belgium's Stefan Castlyn who conceded
the match because of back injury.
Johnson dropped the third game before beating world number 21 Berden 15-6,15-9,8-15,15-8 after 54 minutes struggle. Johnson seeing victory at threshold after taking the first two games easily,lost his concentration and had a late approach to chase the ball in front and back parts of the courts which let him down in the third set.
Losing of the set was a lesson serving for Johnson who atoned for his previous faults and fully concentrated on forcing sizzling shots and lovely placing standing firm in the mid of the court.
AMJAD ONLY PAKISTANI TO
ADVANCE
Pakistans hope for making to the next round badly suffered when qualifier
Ejaz Azmat was beaten by Harris in 68 minutes 13-15,15-5,15-8,15-13. Ejaz
strategy of engaging his rival in long rallies worked out well in the
first set which he won comfortably. Harris cut down all efforts of Ejaz
for slowing down the pace of the game with superb neck shots and hard
hitting.
Ejaz though tried to out of pressure ,trying to match the fast paced game but could not match the agility of Harris who perfectly killed the ball with spin drop shots and delightful back hand shots for the entertainment of a backed crowd. Beng Hee took 11-1 lead after six minutes quick efforts against Castlyn a world number 22 who refused to further continue due to a back injury and conceded the match.
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