21 March 2012-
All but one of the qualifiers competing in the FMC Pakistan
International Squash Circuit No1 survived today's first round of the
PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event in a day of shocks at the Punjab
Squash Complex in Lahore.
Syed Hamzha Shah Bukhari, an 18-year-old from Lahore ranked outside the
world top 200, dug deep to defeat fellow Pakistani Muhammad Shah Nawaz,
ranked more than 50 places higher, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 in 83 minutes.
The lowest-ranked player in the draw now meets the highest - top seed
Aamir Atlas Khan. The world No29 from Peshawar despatched Pakistan
qualifier Khawaja Adil Maqbool 11-6, 12-10, 15-13 in 35 minutes.
After their unexpected first round victories, Owais Khan and Aqib Hanif
will meet in the last eight to ensure that a Pakistan qualifier will
make the semi-finals. Khan, a 19-year-old from Peshawar, defeated
fellow countryman Waqas Mehboob 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7.
And 25-year-old Hanif delighted his home fans in Lahore by pulling off
the biggest upset - ousting second seed Farhan Mehboob 12-10, 12-10,
12-14, 11-8 in 63 minutes.