Egypt’s Soliman Earns Main Draw Berth in CNS International.

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Three-time PSA World Tour title winner Youssef Soliman axed World Junior Championship semi-finalist Israr Ahmed in the final qualifying round of the Pakistan Navy CNS International Squash Championship to claim a main draw spot in Islamabad.

Soliman, whose trio of Tour titles last season helped him break into the world’s top 100, put in a display full of attacking intent and swept to an 11-9, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6 triumph to move through to the next stage of the PSA M25 tournament.

British Junior Champion Soliman will lock horns with Australia’s Rex Hedrick in the opening round of the main draw, where a win could pit him up against title favourite Omar Abdel Meguid in the last eight.

Soliman was the only non-Pakistani player to emerge from the qualifying stage unscathed as home players Farhan Mehboob, Ahsan Ayaz, and Abbas Shoukat all won on the final day of qualifying.

Mehboob and Ayaz claimed wins over Sadam Ul Haq and Ahmad Al-Saraj, respectively. Mehboob will face Dutchman Piedro Schweertman in round one of the main draw, while Ayaz is set to meet number two seed Zahed Mohamed.

Meanwhile, Shoukat defeated Zahir Shah in the final qualifying round and is rewarded with a fixture against United States No.1 Todd Harrity.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: Pakistan Navy CNS International Squash Championship 2016
[L] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt [8] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (40m)
[5] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt [L] Sadam Ul Haq (PAK) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (24m)
[L] Abbas Shoukat (PAK) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 (54m)
[2] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [6] Israr Ahmed (PAK) 3-1: 11-9, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6 (58m)

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v [WC] Asim Khan (PAK)
[Q] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [5] Rex Hedrick (AUS)
[8] Piedro Schweertman (NED) v [Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK)
Christopher Binnie (JAM) v [4] Farhan Zaman (PAK)
[3] Todd Harrity (USA) v [Q] Abbas Shoukat (PAK)
Shehab Essam (PAK) v [7] Peter Creed (WAL)
[6] Mazen Gamal (EGY) v Tayyab Aslam (PAK)
[Q] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) v [2] Zahed Mohamed (EGY)