Farhan Zaman clinches CAS Squash Championship crown

Defeats Danish Atlas 3-1 to claim second consecutive title win in 10 days.

KARACHI:

A talented Farhan Zaman made a statement for Pakistan squash yesterday as he won the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) $15000 International Squash Championship, defeating Danish Atlas 3-1 in the final round at the Hashim Khan Squash Complex in Peshawar.

This was Farhan’s second consecutive title in the last 10 days, having earlier won the DG Rangers (Sindh) Squash Championship after overcoming Tayyab Aslam 3-2.

The 20-year-old came from a set down to win the game with scores of 10-12, 11-4, 11-6 and 11-8, proving his critics wrong about being unable to rise from pressure during big matches.

Farhan, currently at 81 in the Professional Association rankings, is set to boost his position on the tables impressively after the title wins. National coach Jamshed Gul has predicted that the upcoming player will be able to break into the top 30 next year if he maintains form.

Pakistan has been struggling to find real champions after Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. The country has failed in the last seven to eight years to produce players who can break into the top 10.

Mansoor Zaman – son of legendary player Qamar Zaman – was once ranked 11 in the world, but was unable to break into the top 10, while Amir Atlas Khan (14) and Farhan Mehboob (16) have come close. However, a lack of exposure has pushed their rankings way down.

Meanwhile, Danish and Farhan are yet to be fed important Professional Squash Assocation (PSA) tournaments with bigger prize money and ranking points by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).

“It was really important for me to win this title to continue my winning-streak,” Farhan told The Express Tribune.

“The feeling you get from winning tournaments is different because it keeps your morale going and helps you prepare for bigger challenges in your career. I would like to win several more PSA tournaments and emerge as the next ray of hope for Pakistan.”

Farhan will now leave for the US to participate in the $25,000 PSA tournament. Meanwhile, the PSF will start a month-long training camp from today, featuring top players and Pakistan’s candidates for the World Open, Farhan Mehboob and Nasir Iqbal.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2013.

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