Asian Squash Championship: Farhan sends top-seed Ong packing

Pakistani storms into quarter-final after straight-games win.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Farhan Mehboob produced the best performance of the event so far as he thrashed Malaysian top-seed Ong Beng Hee in straight games at their FMC 17th Individual Squash Championship second-round match at the Mushaf Squash Complex yesterday.

Ong was left mesmerised as he failed to come to terms with the Pakistani’s splendid display, losing in three games 4-11, 3-11 and 11-13.

It is not the first time that Farhan triumphed against Ong as the Pakistani said he was confident even before the match started.

“I have defeated Ong many times right from the junior level till now, so I had a psychological advantage from the start,” Farhan told The Express Tribune. “I knew he would try to stretch the duration of the game but I had a plan and went for wall-to-wall shots. That didn’t give him any chance of picking the shots as the balls were getting dead even before he could reach.”

Ong became increasingly frustrated during the match and complained twice that the air condition had turned off during the first game and he could not focus due to inconsistent temperature.

However, the player was clearly outplayed.

‘Farhan did Pakistan a favour’

Pakistan ace Aamir Atlas Khan praised compatriot Farhan after his impressive performance.

“He was magnificent right from the word go and has done us a favour by throwing out the top seed from the competition,” he said.

Aamir also registered an easy 3-0 win over Jordon’s Ahmad al Saraj, while compatriot Nasir Iqbal won with the same scoreline against Kuwait’s Ali Bader al Ramezi.

Pakistan players experienced mixed fortunes, but Farhan Mehboob’s win over top-seed Ong was good news for the host nation on the second day of the event that saw the country’s three female players suffering second-round exits. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS

However, there was despair for three other Pakistan players, as Danish Atlas was beaten in straight games by Kuwait’s Abdullah al Mezayne while Ali Bokhari lost to Malaysia’s Mohammad Asyraf Azan by a scoreline of 9-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-7 and 11-7.

Farhan Zaman was unlucky to lose a five-setter against Malaysia’s M Nafizwan Adnan by 11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, as he conceded crucial points in the last set in pursuit of winners.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s duo of Leo Au and Max Lee registered 3-0 victories against Kuwait’s Ammar al Tamimi and Jordon’s Ahmad al Zabidi.

Maria lone hope in women’s draw for Pakistan

In the women’s draw, Pakistan number one Maria Toor Pakai moved into the quarter-finals by whipping China’s Gu jinyue 3-0 with scores of 11-5, 11-4 and 11-3.

In contrast, three Pakistani girls – Zoya Khalid, Saima Shoukat and Riffat Khan – were thrashed in straight sets by Hong Kong’s trio of Liu Tsz Ling, Joey Chan and Annie Au, while Rushna Mehboob lost to Malasiya’s Delia Arnold by 11-0, 11-8 and 11-6.

Hong Kong’s Tsz Wing beat China’s Xiu Chen by 11-5, 11-2 and 11-3.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2013.