Noor, Irfan storm into round of 16

Pakistan’s top squash players cruise into the pre-quarter-finals while Sana Bahadar bows out after a five-game battle

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s top squash players Noor Zaman and Mohammad Ashab Irfan blasted their way into the pre-quarter-finals of the men’s singles squash event at the 20th Asian Games at Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Wednesday.

Noor defeated Aero Van Dalida of the Philippines 3-0 in a one-sided outing with the set score being 11-2, 11-4 and 11-3.

Noor now will meet Ammar Al Tamimi of Kuwait in the pre-quarter-finals on Thursday.

Meanwhile Mohammad Ashab Irfan also had a solid start to his  men’s singles journey when he overpowered Jason Karam of Lebanon in straight games to progress to the round of 16.

The game score was 11-2, 11-3, 11-0.

Irfan will meet Mohammad Al Nasfan of Saudi Arabia in the pre-quarter-finals on Thursday.

In women’s singles round of 32 Pakistan’s Sana Bahadar lost to Iran’s Najmeh Boushehrizadeh 3-2 following a tense clash.

Sana at one stage was leading 2-1 but the Iranian fought back strongly and lifted the next two sets to seal a thrilling win.

The game score was 11-9, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6 in Najmeh’s favour.

Pakistan also had a good start in the mixed doubles when the pair of Asim Khan and Mehwish Ali defeated Bipana Bhlon and Arhant Simha of Nepal with an enviable ease 2-0. The set score was 11-6, 11-10.

The duo will now face Erisa Sano and Naoki Hayashi of Japan in the round of 16 on Thursday.

Meanwhile Pakistan also faced another casualty when Mahnoor Ali went 3-0 down to Yhann Wai Au Yeong of Singapore in the women’s singles round of 32.

The game score was 11-9, 11-3, 11-8.

On Thursday also Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal and Sehrish Ali will meet Yi Ka Lee and Hong Ming Tong of Hong Kong in the mixed doubles round of 16.