Maqbool advances in squash tournament

Dubai-based player prevails over Kashif in five-game thriller.

KARACHI:

Dubai-based Khawaja Adil Maqbool downed Kashif Khan in a five-game thriller to advance to the next round of the 2nd FMC Pakistan International squash tournament underway in Lahore.

Maqbool came out on top with scores of 10-12, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-5 after a 50-minute battle.

Owais Khan thrashed Naveed Khan 3-0, while Sadamul Haq got the better of Mahad Javed by the same scoreline to make their way into the next round.

Meanwhile, the talented Ali Bukhari also had an easy sailing against Zahir Shah, winning 11-8, 11-7 in just over 30 minutes.

Fast-rising Tayyab Aslam, who bagged the U19 title at the 4th Roshan Khan Junior Open Squash Championship, prevailed over Shahzad Khan 11-8, 11-9 and 11-2.

Naseem Khan lost to Aqib Hanif 3-0, while Hamzah Bukhari won with the same scoreline against Muhammad Bilal.

The main round begins tomorrow, featuring the country’s top players.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2012.