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Matt Janson makes a move in Pakistan Circuit IV

11.20.2000 The Dawn Online

By Farhana Ayaz ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Seventh seed Matt Janson of Australia made short work of Arshed Iqbal Burki in straight games to march into the semi-finals of the Pakistan Squash Circuit-IV Tournament being played at PSB Squash Complex.

Janson disposed off Burki 15-12, 15-11, 15-8 in 44 minutes. Burki, Pakistan junior number two, who had recorded stunning triumph against India's Ritwit Bhattacharya in the first round failed to match the skills of the Janson who is 14th-ranked in Australia.

Janson will be the only foreigner in the pre-finals which features top three seeds from Pakistan. The Australian defeated England's Jago Nardelli in straight games in the first round. The twenty-one year old, 78th in the world will face second seed Mansoor Zaman in the first semi on Monday.

Mansoor Zaman also faced no trouble in overpowering fellow-country opponent Shahid Zaman seeded sixth for the tournament in straight games. Mansoor secured the pre-final berth with a scoreline 15-12, 15-8, 15-9 in 35 minutes. In the third quarter-final third seed Mohammad Illyas conceded the opening game against veteran Mir Zaman Gul before clinching the fixture 12-15, 15-11, 15-8, 17-15 in 50 minutes.

Illyas who has slipped to 84th in world ranking from previous 62nd was extended fully by qualifier Naveed Atlas in the first round. Here in the last quarter-final, top seed Aijaz Azmat scored a straight games victory over Azlan Iskander of Malaysia. Aijaz ranked 41st needed 39 minutes to overwhelm the 18-year-old Malaysian junior champion. Iskandar created the biggest upset of the tournament when he toppled fourth seed Shamsul Islam of Pakistan 3-2 in the first round.

RESULTS (quarter-finals):
7-Matt Janson (Aus) bt LL-Arshed Iqbal Burki (Pak) 15-12, 15-11, 15-8,
2-Mansoor Zaman (Pak) bt 6-Shahid Zaman (Pak) 15-12, 15-8, 15-9,
3-Mohammad Illyas (Pak) bt 11-Mir Zaman Gul (Pak) 12- 15, 15-11, 15-8, 17-15,
1-Aijaz Azmat (Pak) bt 10-Azlan Iskander (Mal) 15-8, 17-16, 15-11.

(1st round):
LL-Arshed Iqbal Burki (Pak) bt Q-Riwit Bhattacharya (Ind) 12-15, 17-16, 7-15, 15-8, 15-12,
7-Matt Janson (Aus) bt 9-Jago Nardelli (Eng) 15-1, 15-12, 15-11,
2-Mansoor Zaman (Pak) bt Q- Imran Mohib (Pak) 15-13, 15-4, 15-5,
6-Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt 8- Fahim Khan (HKG) 15-13, 15-5, 15-9,
11-Mir Zaman Gul (Pak) bt Humayun Khan (Pak) 10-15, 15-9, 13-15, 15-9, 15-10,
3-Mohammad Illyas (Pak) bt Q-Naveed Atlas (Pak) 12-15, 15-12, 7-15, 15-3, 17-16,
10-Azlan Iskander (Mal) bt Shamsul Islam (Pak) 15-13, 7- 15, 15-12, 13-15, 17-15,
1-Aijaz Azmat (Pak) bt Q-Naseem Tahkali (Pak) 15-1, 15-9, 15-3.

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