All-Pakistan Final For PSA Persian Gulf Cup
by Howard Harding
17 February 2013 - For the second time in three years, a surprise all-Pakistan final will bring the Kish Persian Gulf Cup to a climax after Aamir Atlas Khan and unseeded Nasir Iqbal prevailed in contrasting semi-finals of the fifth staging of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at the Kish Olympic Sports Center in Kish Island, Iran.
Aamir, the second seed who ousted younger brother and 2011 champion Danish Atlas Khan to reach the semis, continued his powerful run in Iran to see off Egypt's Andrew Wagih Shoukry, the No3 seed, 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 in 32 minutes.
Khan is celebrating the 15th Tour final of his career.
It took Iqbal more than three times longer to produce the event's biggest upset when he beat top seed Mohd Ali Anwar Reda in another Pakistan/Egypt clash.
Reda, a former world No23 from Cairo and firm favourite for the event, twice had to stem leads by 18-year-old Iqbal, ranked 34 places lower.
But the Peshawar teenager held his nerve to close out the match 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 after 108 minutes to claim his fifth PSA Tour final appearance.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 5th Kish Persian Gulf Cup, Kish Island, Iran
Semi-finals:
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [1] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 (108m)
[2] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 (32m)
Back To Main
