Mehboob, Tayyab book place in final

They defeated Zahir, Saqib in DG Rangers’ squash last four .

KARACHI: Former world number 16 Farhan Mehboob booked a clash with Tayyab Aslam, while unseeded Riffat Khan will play against eighth seed Zoya Khalid today in the finals of the 8th DG Rangers Sindh National Championship.

In the men’s semi-finals, fifth-seed Tayyab was made to work hard by unseeded Zahir Shah before he eventually came out on top 3-2.

With the match evenly poised at 1-1, Tayyab tried to break away and won the third frame in an emphatic manner to restore his one-game lead. But Zahir fought back to take the match into a decider before he was undone by Tayyab, who won by scores of 12-10, 9-11, 11-2, 10-12 and 11-7.



In the other last-four encounter, Farhan Mehboob had a much easier time thrashing Sheikh Saqib in straight sets of 11-6, 11-4 and 11-7 in under half an hour.

Mehboob said that he had been focused against Saqib as his opponent had earlier caused a big upset by beating the talented Farhan Zaman 3-2 in the quarter-finals. “I was very focused against Saqib, which is why I won easily,” Mehoob told The Express Tribune.

“I knew that taking him easy could have troubled me because he played a really great game in the quarter-finals, beating Zaman who is one of the most naturally-gifted stroke makers in Pakistan. That concentration helped me win in straight games and this will keep me fresh for the all-important finale.”

Mehboob added that he is expecting Tayyab to put up a tough fight but feels it will be a test of the youngster’s fitness, who has already played two five-setters on the trot.

“Tayyab has shown a fighting spirit throughout the tournament and I expect the same in the final. I want to win this championship to improve my national as well as PSA ranking,” stated Mehboob.

In the female category, Zoya stunned fifth seed Saima Shoukat 3-0 win in just 15 minutes by scores of 11-6, 11-4 and 11-4 while Riffat shocked second seed Samar Anjum with a 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 and 11-6 victory.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th,  2014.

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