Pakistanis Prevail In Phoenix PSA
by Howard Harding

9 November 2013 - Tayyab Aslam and Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari are one match away from a shock all-Pakistani Phoenix Open final after claiming unexpected semi-final berths in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at Life Time Fitness in Tempe in the US state of Arizona.

Aslam survived a marathon quarter-final against fellow countryman Shahjahan Khan, a qualifier. The 17-year-old from Lahore fought back from 2/1 down to win 12-10, 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 after 115 minutes.

"Both players collapsed after their games from exhaustion and cramps," said tournament director Andre Maur.

In the other half of the draw, Bukhari beat fellow qualifier Robert Downer of England 11-3, 11-9, 11-8.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Phoenix Open, Tempe, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [WC] Mohamed Elsherbini (EGY) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (70m)
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 12-10, 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (115m)
[Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) bt Aqib Hanif (PAK) 11-1, 11-5, 11-8
[Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) bt [Q] Robert Downer (ENG) 11-3, 11-9, 11-8

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) v Tayyab Aslam (PAK)
[Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) v [Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN)