Squash: Atlas loses in British Grand Prix

Pakistan squash number one dumped out by Australia’s Pilley.

KARACHI: Pakistan number one Aamir Atlas Khan had the worst possible start to his British Grand Prix squash tournament campaign after he went down 3-0 to Australia’s Cameroon Pilley in Manchester.

According to details made available, Pilley only needed 31 minutes to outclass the world number 23.

Atlas, who failed at the World Team Championship a month ago, was made to run all over the court as Pilley took the first game 11-6. The world number 16 repeated the same scoreline in the second game before clinching the final game 11-5 as Atlas had only himself to blame for the heavy loss.

“I wasn’t good enough,” said the Pakistan player. “I made a lot of mistakes and those cost me the match.”

On the other hand Pilley was ecstatic after getting his campaign off to a winning start. “I wanted to beat him because he defeated me in Malaysia last time,” said Pilley.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd,  2011.