Burqi keeps Pakistan hopes alive

by Howard Harding
All content © 2003 Squashtalk

Dec 15, 2003

Pakistani Qualifier wins in final first round session

[complete first round results]
Pakistani qualifier Arshad Iqbal Burki boosted local interest in the $170,000 Bank Alfalah Men's World Open Squash Championship in his home country after fighting back from 1/2 down to upset Canada's 24th seed Shahier Razik 15-13 3-15 10-15 17-14 15-8 in the final session of first round action in Lahore.

Burki, 19, from Peshawar, joins 13th seed Mansoor Zaman, also from Peshawar, as the only two Pakistanis through to the second round of the first staging of the World Open in Pakistan since legend Jansher Khan won his record eighth title in Karachi in 1996.

Scotland's 12th seed Martin Heath became the event's biggest first round casualty when he was beaten 17-16 15-9 16-17 15-8 by unseeded Tommy Berden, from the Netherlands. Berden and Burki face each other for a place in the last sixteen.

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

1st round:
[25] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Dan Jenson (AUS) 15-10, 15-6, 15-12
[16] Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt Michael Corren (AUS) 17-16, 15-10, 12-15, 15-12
[19] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Saeed Hassan (PAK) 15-11, 15-10, 15-11
[6] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Laurens Anjema (NED) 15-9, 15-7, 15-4
[Q] Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) bt [24] Shahier Razik (CAN) 15-13, 3-15, 10-15, 17-14, 15-8
Tommy Berden (NED) bt [12] Martin Heath (SCO) 17-16, 15-9, 16-17, 15-8