Aamir loses home event to Egypt’s Meguid

Defending champion passes on CAS squash crown after 3-2 loss.

KARACHI:

Defending champion Aamir Atlas Khan lost his Serena Hotel Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Championship title to Egypt's Omar Abdel Meguid 3-2 yesterday after a close match at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad.

Aamir began the match with confidence, taking the opening two games 11-6, 11-6 to lead 2-0, but Meguid replied in the third game 11-4, reminding the audience of his top seed status at the tournament.

The world number 28 continued to dominate, taking the fourth game 11-5, as he levelled the match 2-2 and sealed the win with 13-11.

While Meguid had a smooth run to the final, eighth seed Aamir surprised critics with his performance at the championship.

The former world number 14 had defeated his younger brother Danish 3-2 in the last-four round, while Meguid downed Qatar's Abdulla Mohammad al Tamimi to reach the final. The Egyptian bagged US$25,000 prize money at the closing ceremony.

CAS Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who is also the president of the Pakistan Squash Federation, gave away the trophies.

Former world champion Australia's Geoff Hunt, Pakistan's Qamar Zaman and Jansher Khan were present at the match.

The championship marked the return of the CAS event to Pakistan after seven years; Aamir had won the title when it was last held in 2008.

The Professional Squash Association sanctioned event featured seven foreign players, while 25 local players competed for the title.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2014.

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