Pakistan dominates

by Howard Harding
All content © 2003 Squashtalk

Dec 13, 2003

Pakistan Dominate World Open Qualifiers In Lahore

Pakistan claimed four of the eight places reserved for qualifiers in the Bank Alfalah Men's World Open Squash Championship after impressive wins in today's (Saturday) qualifying finals in Lahore, Pakistan.

Arshad Iqbal Burki came from 1/2 down to beat England's Phillip Barker 15-2 6-15 14-17 15-13 15-9, while compatriot Shamsul Islam Khan defeated Dutchman Dylan Bennett, the European Junior champion, 15-6 17-15 15-8.

Safeerullah Khan, the Pakistan Junior National champion and British Junior Open champion, was 2/0 behind before he mounted his fight-back to beat countryman Majid Khan 5-15 16-17 15-12 15-9 15-12. Saeed Hassan claimed the fourth place for the hosts with a 15-10 15-12 12-15 15-12 victory over Australia's Timothy Manning.

The first round gets underway in Lahore tomorrow (Sunday) when the four Pakistani qualifiers join the country's highly-regarded Zaman cousins Mansoor, Shahid and Farrukh for a share of the PSA Tour event's $170,000 prize fund.

RESULTS: Bank Alfalah Men's World Open Squash Championship, Lahore, Pakistan

Qualifying finals:

Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) bt Phillip Barker (ENG) 15-2, 6-15, 14-17, 15-13, 15-9
Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Khalid Atlas (PAK) 15-8, 16-17, 13-15, 15-7, 15-6
Saeed Hassan (PAK) bt Timothy Manning (AUS) 15-10, 15-12, 12-15, 15-12
Raj Nanda (AUS) bt Naveed Atlas (PAK) 15-13, 15-13, 12-15, 15-8
Safeerullah Khan (PAK) bt Majid Khan (PAK) 5-15, 16-17, 15-12, 15-9, 15-12
Peter Barker (ENG) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 15-7, 15-10, 15-4
Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 15-6, 17-15, 15-8
John Rooney (IRL) bt Yasir Butt (PAK) 17-16, 15-10, 12-15, 15-10

First Round Qualifying Results:

Asrhad Iqbal Burki (Pak) bye
Phil Barker (Eng) bt Khayal Muhammad (Pak) 13-15, 15-11, 14-8 rtd (59m)
Ritwik BhattaCharya (Ind) bt Shahnawaz (Pak) 15-11, 13-15, 15-13, 15-7 (56m)
Khalid Atlas (Pak) bt Aqib Hanif (Pak) 15-6, 15-7, 15-4 (24m)
Saeed Hasan (Pak) bt Mark Heather (Eng) 17-14, 15-10, 14-15, 15-9 (54m)
Timothy Manning (Aus) bt Muhammad Ilyas (Pak) 15-17, 15-9, 15-4, 15-4 (49m)
Raj Nanda (Aus) bt Zubiar Ali Khan (Pak) 15-13, 15-11, 15-8 (24m)
Naveed Atlas (Pak) bt Scott Fitzgerald (Wal) 13-15, 15-10, 15-11, 15-8 (46m)
Safeerullah Khan (Pak) bt Hiader Jamal (Pak) 15-9, 15-6, 15-7 (29m)
Majid Khan (Pak) bt Bashit Ashfaq (Pak) 15-6, 15-4, 15-7 (25m)
Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Andrea Capella (Ita) 15-9, 15-7, 15-7 (35m)
Peter Barker (Eng) bt Tony James (Aus) 15-4,15-8, 15-8 (30m)
Dylan Bennett (Ned) bt Bilal Zaman (Pak) 15-7, 15-12, 14-15, 15-13 (54m)
Shamsul Islam (Pak) bt Mark Krajcsak (Hun) 15-12, 15-13, 15-6 (37m)
Yasir Butt (Pak) bt Farhan Moeen (Pak) 15-2, 15-3, 15-7 (16m)
John Rooney (Irl) bt M Suleman (Pak) 15-2, 15-2, 15-9 (18m)