KARACHI: Serving a two-year ban placed by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), the country’s top-ranked player Aamir Atlas remains determined about his future with an impressive start at the London Open Squash.
Atlas, world number 26 from Peshawar, is also the top-seed in the $20,000 event and overcame New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson 3-1 in his first test to sail into the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old showed strength in his powerful shots to win the first game 11-7 before taking a 2-0 lead with an 11-4 win.
The Kiwi halved the deficit by winning the third game 11-9 but Atlas, overcoming a bout of complacency, kept it tight in the penultimate game. He faced resistance but his concentration on long rallies gave him a 12-10 win from game-ball down in the tie-break. Atlas now faces Chris Simpson.
“I’ve worked hard for this event,” said Atlas, who was banned for under-performing in the world team championship held earlier this year.
“I have many years left and I am confident that I can improve my world rankings.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2011.
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