Atlas confirms at least silver for Pakistan in Asiad

Pakistan lose to India for the fourth time this year after defeats at the World Cup, Azlan Shah Cup and the CWG.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top squash player Amir Atlas confirmed at least a silver medal in the men’s individual squash event at the 16th Asian Games, when he defeated defending champion Beng Hee Ong 3-1 in the semi-final. The 20-year-old beat his Malaysian opponent in 54 minutes to book his place in today’s final against Mohammad Azlan Iskandar.

Atlas took a 2-1 lead after winning 11-5, 11-8, but lost the third set 11-9 to the four-time Asian Games champion, only to seal his win by claiming the fourth one 15-13. “I’ve proved my fitness in the Asian Games,” Atlas told The Express Tribune. “It was a tough match and my longest one in the tournament too. Ong is one of Malaysia’s most successful squash players and he gave me a tough fight. But I really enjoyed the game when he couldn’t handle my shots.”

Greenshirts defeated

India cruised into the men’s hockey semi-finals when they beat Pakistan 3-2 in their Group B match.

Sandeep Singh scored the first two goals for India after converting two penalty corners in the first half, while Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi equalised each time. But the match ended with Dharamvir Singh firing the winner in the 48th minute ending Ashraf’s hopes for revenge.

“I think the team played superbly, but the umpiring standard was bad,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “The umpire didn’t grant us three penalty corners that we deserved. But in the end we got six chances and we only converted two and India got four chances and they scored thrice. That was the difference between the two teams,” said Ashraf.

Pakistan still have a chance of reaching the semi-finals depending on their last group match against Bangladesh today.

Meanwhile, Pakistan boxers failed to qualify for the quarter-finals as Muhammad Waseem lost to India’s Amandeep Singh 11-0 and Arshad Hussain lost 12-5 to Philippines’ Wilfredo Lopez.

Pakistan fared well in volleyball as they beat Indonesia 3-2 in the men’s volleyball Group G match.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.