Nasir wins 4th PSA title as injury mars both finals

Samar claims first title as opponents withdraw due to injuries.

KARACHI: Unseeded Samar Anjum claimed her first WISPA tour title as she won the final of the first DHA Karachi International Squash Championship against fourth seed Rushna Mehboob, who withdrew due to injury in the fifth set at the Asif Nawaz Squash Complex yesterday.

Rushna was leading 2-1 at one stage but Samar, who received $570 as winning purse, clawed her way back at 2-2. She was cruising to her first title when her opponent injured herself and withdrew. Samar won with scores of 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 13-11 and 6-1 after 55 minutes.

The Punjab-based player had earlier stunned top-seed Zoya Khalid in the semifinal by winning in straight sets. Samar was ecstatic after winning her maiden WSA tour title and said that international events were helping her improve her game.

“I came into this event on a high after playing at the Asian Junior Championship for Pakistan which really helped me to my first title,” Samar told The Express Tribune.



“This victory means a lot to me as I’ve played squash despite resistance from my family but my father always stood by me. Had he been not supportive, I wouldn’t have been playing squash.”

When asked how she got into squash, she replied: “My brother Umair Anjum started playing the game and I got into it by watching him but he later quit. I’ll never do the same as I’m dreaming high for big things.”

She said if girls can continue playing international events, they could go on to win major laurels for Pakistan. According to her, the major difference between them and foreign players is the amount of exposure both get.

The player added that she takes inspiration from Pakistan number one Maria Toor Pakay and wants to emulate her success.

Meanwhile, the men’s final became an anti-climax too as Nasir Iqbal won with ease in 20 minutes after Amir Atlas Khan pulled out as his abductor injury aggravated while playing a shot.

Nasir was leading 11-9 and 9-5 when Amir decided to quit in pain.

“I’m pleased to win the title but I would have been happier to beat a completely fit Amir,” said Nasir adding that he would have still won had Amir been fit because he had trained very hard and was getting better day by day.

Meanwhile, Amir stated: “The injury was disturbing my movement since the last two matches but the pain got worse in the final so I’m a bit disappointed that it ended this way. Nasir played well too which made me work even harder.”

The winner pocketed $1,900 while the runner-up received $1,300.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2013.