Disappointing exit: Aamir Atlas knocked out of World Open

Pakistan’s best player loses 3-1 to Alister Walker in the first round

KARACHI: Pakistan’s best player and Asian Senior Individual Champion, Aamir Atlas Khan, has been knocked out of the World Open after losing his first round match 3-1 against Botswana’s Alister Walker at the Khalifa International Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar.

Aamir, who had made his entry after winning the qualifiers, took the first game to start off well in the match but could not repeat the trick in the following frames, losing them with considerable margins as Walker triumphed with scores of 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 and 11-6.

The former world number 14 recently finished runner-up in the CAS $25000 International Squash Championship played in Islamabad, which had suggested that he might be regaining the form that had once made him a top 20 player. However, those suggestions have now been quashed with his loss at the mega event, and Aamir is currently ranked 78^th in the world.

Walker spoke highly of his opponent, despite the easy win, stating that he is a dangerous player who can turn a game around at any given moment.

“He is such a dangerous player that all the pressure was on me today [Friday],” said Walker. “I could have won the first set but I could have been 2-0 down as well, so I’m grateful to end up as the winner.”

 

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