Aamir clinches squash event

Pakistan number one downs Iqbal in one-sided final.

KARACHI: Pakistan number one Aamir Atlas clinched the 10th Chief of Army Staff squash event, comfortably defeating Nasir Iqbal 3-0 in the final held in Islamabad.

After winning the first game 11-7, Aamir brushed aside the 17-year-old 11-5, 11-7 in the following games to win his first event of the year and bag the $12,000 prize money.

“It’s a great feeling to win a title at home,” Aamir told The Express Tribune. “I haven’t been doing well in international events so I take this as a consolation.

“But I must appreciate Iqbal’s game. He’s extremely fit and is next in line to be among the top players of the country. Winning this final is not really a big deal since I’m much more experienced than Iqbal. But it is a great start especially right before the British Open.”

Aamir, who earned four rankings points after his win in the final, will now play at the British Open next month and hoped that the domestic title will boost his confidence ahead of the event in London.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2012.