Aqib upsets Atlas for squash title

Qualifier shocks top-seed to lift trophy.

KARACHI:

Qualifier Aqib Hanif caused the 2nd FMC Pakistan international Squash Circuit’s biggest upset when he beat Pakistan’s top-ranked Amir Atlas Khan in the final after a five-set exhausting duel in Lahore.

Aqib, ranked 176 in the world, had been on a roll throughout the $10,000 tournament event by causing upsets at will. Starting from the qualifying rounds, he beat second-seed Farhan Mehboob in the first-round and got the better of Farhan Zaman in the semi-final.

In the final, Amir won the first set with ease but Aqib fought back gallantly to pick up the next two sets. Amir did respond to get back on level terms and take the match into a deciding set. However, after 69 minutes Aqib won the title 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 10-12 and 13-11 at the Punjab Squash Association Complex.

“I am glad to win the first title of my career as I gave it my all,” said Aqib who bagged $1,805.

“Amir was fighting hard which caused problems but I didn’t lose hope.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2012.