Mehboob downs Azan 3-1 in World Open

Pakistan off to a winning start in squash World Open 2010 being held in Damam.

KARACHI: Pakistan number two Farhan Mehboob defeated Malaysian Muhammad Asyraf Azan 3-1 to cruise through to the second round of the World Open 2010 which is being held in Damam.

Mehboob, ranked 30th in the world, took just 30 minutes to beat his opponent as he took the lead by winning the first two sets 11-6, 11-8. Azan hit back, prevailing in a close finish, 11-9 but Mehboob clinched the next 11-5 as he stamped his authority on a rather one-sided encounter.

Mehboob now faces the French top-seed Gregory Gaultier tomorrow. Pakistan number one Aamir Atlas Khan, who won a gold and silver medal at the recently-concluded Asian Games, will begin his campaign at the World Open today against Autralia’s Steve Finitsis.

Both players are competing with 30 other players from 64 countries to win the US $327,500-championship.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2010.