Asian Squash Championship: Aamir ousts defending champion amid controversy
Pakistani sets up last-four clash against Azan; Farhan to tackle Al Mezayan.
Pakistan head coach Gul hopes to see an all Pakistan final between Aamir and Farhan. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Defending champion Nofizwan Adnan of Malaysia fell prey to the brilliance of local favourite Aamir Atlas Khan in the quarter-final as he was dumped out of the 19th Asian Individual Squash Championship at the Mushaf Squash Complex yesterday.
Aamir won 3-2 with a scoreline of 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11 and 11-9 in what were 63 minutes of drama-laden action.
The match began on a sour note as Nofizwan refused to take the court in protest against the inclusion of Aamir’s relative Mehboob Khan in the umpires’ panel.
Despite the absence of any rule allowing a player to protest against the umpiring panel, tournament referee Mohammad Fayyaz succumbed to the Malaysian’s request and replaced Mehboob with a Jordanian official.
Mehboob was left distraught with the decision.
“It is beyond my understanding why this decision was taken,” he told The Express Tribune. “Going against the rules to accommodate such things would only encourage players to show more retaliation and it wasn’t a good example.”
However, the controversy did not affect Aamir’s concentration who went on to clinch the close encounter. He will now face Malaysia’s Muhammad Asyraf Azan, who stunned second-seed Max Lee of Hong Kong, winning 3-1 with a scoreline of 11-9, 3-11, 11-9 and 11-9.
Farhan, Al Mezayan to clash in 2nd semi
The second semi-final is expected to be a blockbuster between two of the best technical players in the competition — Farhan Mehboob and Kuwait’s Abdullah al Mezayan.
Pakistan head coach Jamshed Gul was optimistic about Pakistan’s chances at the championship.
“Our efforts are clearly paying off,” he said. “I hope there will be an all Pakistan final between Aamir and Farhan.”
In the women’s event, top-seed Low Wee Wern of Malaysia defeated Pakistan’s lone-surviving female player Maria Toor Pakai 3-0.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.
Defending champion Nofizwan Adnan of Malaysia fell prey to the brilliance of local favourite Aamir Atlas Khan in the quarter-final as he was dumped out of the 19th Asian Individual Squash Championship at the Mushaf Squash Complex yesterday.
Aamir won 3-2 with a scoreline of 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11 and 11-9 in what were 63 minutes of drama-laden action.
The match began on a sour note as Nofizwan refused to take the court in protest against the inclusion of Aamir’s relative Mehboob Khan in the umpires’ panel.
Despite the absence of any rule allowing a player to protest against the umpiring panel, tournament referee Mohammad Fayyaz succumbed to the Malaysian’s request and replaced Mehboob with a Jordanian official.
Mehboob was left distraught with the decision.
“It is beyond my understanding why this decision was taken,” he told The Express Tribune. “Going against the rules to accommodate such things would only encourage players to show more retaliation and it wasn’t a good example.”
However, the controversy did not affect Aamir’s concentration who went on to clinch the close encounter. He will now face Malaysia’s Muhammad Asyraf Azan, who stunned second-seed Max Lee of Hong Kong, winning 3-1 with a scoreline of 11-9, 3-11, 11-9 and 11-9.
Farhan, Al Mezayan to clash in 2nd semi
The second semi-final is expected to be a blockbuster between two of the best technical players in the competition — Farhan Mehboob and Kuwait’s Abdullah al Mezayan.
Pakistan head coach Jamshed Gul was optimistic about Pakistan’s chances at the championship.
“Our efforts are clearly paying off,” he said. “I hope there will be an all Pakistan final between Aamir and Farhan.”
In the women’s event, top-seed Low Wee Wern of Malaysia defeated Pakistan’s lone-surviving female player Maria Toor Pakai 3-0.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.