Gulf Cup: Nasir stuns top seed to enter squash final

Pakistan teenager to meet compatriot Atlas in epic battle.

KARACHI: Pakistan teenager Nasir Iqbal shocked Egypt’s top seed Mohammad Ali Anwar Reda to book a place in the final of the fifth Kish Persian Gulf Cup in Kish Island, Iran.

The youngster faces compatriot Aamir Atlas in the all Pakistan epic battle.

In a gruelling contest, Nasir started off well winning the first game 11-9 against the world number 23. However, Reda made a comeback claiming the second game 6-11 before unseeded Nasir regained the lead, in the third game 11-5.

The Peshawar-based youngster came close to sealing the win but Reda used his experience to secure a 11-9 win, stretching the semi-final to the fifth game.

Nasir held his nerve and managed a 11-5 win in the decisive round in 108 minutes.

Meanwhile in other semi-final, second seed Atlas lived up to expectations handing a 3-0 defeat to another Egyptian Andrew Wagih Shoukry.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2013.