Sports

Atlas cruises into third round of World Open

Injury forces opponent’s retirement in squash event.

Express December 06, 2010

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-ranked squash player Aamir Atlas cruised into the third round of the PSA World Open Squash Championship in Dammam on Sunday when his opponent, Egypt’s world number two Ramy Ashour, retired hurt after the opening set.

Atlas showed no mercy to Ashour, who was suffering from a hamstring injury, and took the set 11-2 in just six minutes to progress into the next round. This was the duo’s third meeting this year and resulted in Atlas’ first win.

“I outclassed him in the first set and all I saw was that he couldn’t return my shots,” Atlas told The Express Tribune. “Of course it’s not a great feeling, winning a match this way but he didn’t show any sign of injury in the beginning. But I’m excited that I made it to the third round.”

Atlas will face world number 10 Mohammad el Shorbagy of Egypt today.

The 19-year-old Pakistani has won the previous two meetings against Shorbagy this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

C | 13 years ago | Reply Haha this report is hilariously bad from both parties! Aamir is 19?? He changes ages like I change underpants. once a month!

Gasherbrummistani | 13 years ago | Reply What a ridiculous quote by Aamir. Ramy was injured in his previous game and if Aamir didn't know that prior to the start of this one, he really needs to get some scouting going on his opponents. But the quote sums up the issues with the current crop of Pakistani squash players - extreme attitude with very little thought going into taking their game to the next level, to actually be able to compete with future hall-of-famers like Ramy. No wonder he was thrashed 3-0 in the third round by a 19 year old Egyptian. If this attitude continues, Aamir will probably end up like a slew of other Pakistani boys that have broken the top 20 in the past - coaching a bunch of overweight weekenders in one of the oil rich Gulf states at the age of 25.

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