Top players advance in COAS squash

ISLAMABAD: Top Pakistan players Aamir Atlas Khan and Farhan Mehboob won their respective first round matches in straight sets and confirmed their place in the quarters of 7th COAS Open Squash Championship here at Mushaf Squash Complex.

Ranked 15th in the world circuit Aamir Atlas took the first two sets against Farhan Zaman. However, in the third set Farhan fought well but Aamir was not in a mood to let the match go to the fourth set as he won the third set 12-10.

Meanwhile, Farhan Mehboob, who has recently jumped to career best world ranking (16), overpowered his younger sibling Waqas Mehboob in only 18 minutes. Rising star Waqar Mehboob also confirmed his place in the last-eight beating Owais Khan also in straight sets.

Seasoned player Mansoor Zaman was taken to full stretch of the game by Shoaib Hassan before the World No 33 recorded a marathon five-set victory in 55 minutes. Lahore based Yasir Butt thrashed Aurangzeb in straight sets taking only 22 minutes.

In women''s event, top Pakistani player Maria Toor Pakay eased into the quarters after she got a bye. Muqaddas Ashraf recorded the quickest triumph of the day trouncing Amna Latif 11/2, 11/0, 11/2 in only seven minutes.