Nasir clinches CNS squash title, Danish goes down fighting

Pakistan’s top-ranked player outplays opponent 3-2 in $15,000 PSA event

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-ranked PSA player Nasir Iqbal was able to hold off a challenge from Danish Atlas Khan to win the Arena – 11th Chief of the Naval Staff International Squash Championship 3-2 at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Complex in Karachi on Tuesday.

Danish started off well by racing to a 6-3 lead in the first game only to be denied by Nasir, who won 11-9. Being 1-0 down, Danish played the second game on a high tempo, which enabled him to level the match 1-1.

He then doubled his lead 2-1 by winning the third game. However, Nasir, known for his perseverance more than for his game, levelled the results 2-2 to take the match into the decider.

Both players stretched each other to the limit in the 74-minute battle and were locked at 8-8 in the fifth game until Nasir exerted himself to win the $15,000 event with scores of 11-9, 3-11, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-8.

“It was a tight encounter with Nasir and a match fitting for a final, but eventually he turned out to be the winner,” Danish told The Express Tribune. “I let the first game slip despite leading 6-3. Had I won the first game, I could have won the final in straight games but it wasn’t meant to be my day.

“I slipped and hurt my right knee in the crucial fifth game, which didn’t allow me to move freely in the dying moments of the match.”

Danish, Tayyab to go for Asian event

Danish stated that he and Tayyab Aslam have received the green signal from the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) to participate in the upcoming Asian Individual Squash Championship.

Both players were named as reserves for the continental championship by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), while Nasir and Farhan Zaman were automatic choices after trials.

“I’m really happy that we are no more standbys for the Asian champion and will be participating as full-fleged players,” said Danish. “The match practice we’ve gained through this competition will help us prepare for the Asian competition. There is another PSA tournament in Lahore before we leave, so hopefully I’ll be able to win it.”

 

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