Atlas eyes Kuala Lumpur Open title

Pakistan squash ace hopes for decreased ban duration.

KARACHI:

Pakistan squash number one Aamir Atlas is looking forward to improving his world ranking at the Kuala Lumpur Squash (KL) Open that will begin from March 15 in the Malaysian capital.

Meanwhile, he is also hoping to represent Pakistan in the Asian Individual Championship that will take place in April, despite a six-month ban that the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) imposed on him in January.

The year began with a blow to Atlas as the PSF banned him from all squash activities and facilities due to a violation of the federation’s code of conduct.

However, Atlas has pinned his hopes on the $50,000 KL Open to redeem his career. “It’s all or nothing for me. It’s going to be a tough tournament, especially after the way I have been failing in the international events,” Atlas told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, Atlas, who will be leaving for Malaysia tomorrow, also said that he has appealed to the PSF to decrease his ban duration so that he can participate in the Asian Individual Championship.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.