Pakistani Maria Toor Pakay earns spot in US squash tournament final

Pakay won her semi-final match 14-12, 17-15, 11-4 in 57 minutes PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

ARIZONA, USA: Pakistan’s fourth seeded squash player Maria Toor Pakay earned herself a berth in the final of Southwest Open underway in Arizona, stunning second seeded English racquet-wielder Lauren Selby in the semifinals.

Ranked 52 in the international circuit, Pakay overcame the 40th ranked Selby in the 57 minute clash.

The young Pakistani who hails from the conservative district of Bannu in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, toiled to take the first set 14-12.

Selby gave Pakay a hard time in the second set, but the Pakistani persevered to win it 17-15, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

Pakay though routed Selby in the third set 11-4 to storm into the final.

The Bannu resident will face favorite Latasha Khan in final of the $10,000 event. Khan had dispatched third seed Amanda Landers-Murphy registering a formidable 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 victory in 40 minutes.