Atlas crashes out in first round

Pakistan’s top-ranked squash player Aamir Atlas bows out of El Gouna International Squash Open in Alexandria, Egypt.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-ranked squash player Aamir Atlas bowed out of the El Gouna International Squash Open in Alexandria, Egypt, after losing his first-round match against ninth-seed Mohamed El Shorbagy in straight games.

Atlas put on a disappointing show as he succumbed to a 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 defeat to the Egyptian in only 29 minutes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan number two Farhan Mehboob shocked local player Wael Hindi to cruise into the second round of the tournament. Unseeded Mehboob made a brilliant comeback after a disappointing Commonwealth Games in New Delhi to overcome 10th-seed Hindi in four games as the match lasted just 55 minutes. After losing the first game 9-11, the left-handed player displayed superb accuracy to win the next three games 11-2, 11-7 and 11-5.

“It was my lucky day and I played well after so many matches at the Commonwealth Games,” said Mehboob. “I’m happy with the victory as it gives me a chance to reach the quarterfinals.”

The tournament will now move from Alexandria to El Gouna where it would resume with the second round matches being played today.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2010.