Asian Individual Championship: Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman named for Kuwait event

Tayab, Danish will be used as reserves.

Our Correspondent March 12, 2015

Tayyab Aslam surprised with a third-place finished over Danish Atlas, who ended up in fourth — both will be used as reserves. Sheikh Saqib finished last. STOCK IMAGE

KARACHI: Nasir Iqbal and Farhan Zaman booked their berths in the upcoming Asian Individual Championship to be played in Kuwait next month after defending champion Aamir Atlas and senior player Farhan Mehboob failed to show up for the trials.

Both Aamir and Mehboob have voiced their reservations with the Pakistan Squash Federation’s (PSF) policies and behaviour, which resulted in their absence at the trials.

The federation too decided to move on from the two after repeated requests for their appearance in the selection process went in vain.

The PSF were asked to submit the name of two players by the Asian Squash Federation for the continental event. At the end of the three-day trials, Nasir finished on top while Zaman, who is a tremendous strokeplayer, finished as runner-up to seal their place for the championship.

Tayyab Aslam surprised with a third-place finished over Danish Atlas, who ended up in fourth — both will be used as reserves. Sheikh Saqib finished last.

Zaman, who is regarded as one of the most gifted players in Pakistan along with Mehboob, is looking to take on the challenge head first in the absence of the senior players. “We’ve got a good opportunity in the upcoming Asian Championship to make a name for ourselves,” Zaman told The Express Tribune.

Zaman played well in the last edition in 2013 but lost to Malaysia’s Nafizwan Adnan in the second round due to his search for outrageous winners.

He then lost in a similar manner to Adnan in the Asian Team Championship last year.

“I’ve matured my game over the last couple of months and my approach in now tighter than before,” said Zaman. “With time, I’ve realised that you cannot hit a winner on every point and sometimes you have to wait a bit for your opponent to make a mistake.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2015.

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