Pakistan teenager Nosherwan Khan produced the only upset in today’s first round of the DHA Karachi International Squash Championship – and survived the day’s longest battle when he upset Pakistan-born Kashif Shuja, the third seed from New Zealand, in five games to claim a surprise place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at the Asif Nawaz Squash Complex in Karachi, Pakistan.
The inaugural event returns to the venue which has held both World Championships and Pakistan Opens.
“I welcome the PSA Tour at Karachi, after eight years gap,” said Tournament Director Tahir Khanzada at the opening ceremony. “The last PSA event held at DHA Creek Club Karachi in the year 2005 was the Pakistan Open which was won by Thierry Lincou.
“I thank all the players who are participating in the 1st DHA Karachi International Squash Championship – and especially Kashif Shuja, Khawaja Adil Maqbool & Karamatullah Khan who have flown from different destination outside Pakistan.
“I thank the sponsors, especially the DHA Creek Club management for putting extra efforts to renovate the entire Asif Nawaz Squash Complex,” added Khanzada.
At 2/1 down, 33-year-old former world No36 Shuja (pictured above with Nosherwan) survived a dramatic 21-19 fourth game to take the match into a decider.
But 18-year-old Nosherwan, a qualifier from Peshawar, held his nerve to close out the match 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 19-21, 11-9 after 95 minutes.
Shuja, who has played a leading role in helping promote the championship, said before his match: “Being in Karachi, and especially at the DHA squash complex, brings back many memories of the two World Opens and many Pakistan opens held here in the 90s.
“All the top players were here and I played and watched as a youngster. Even Amr Shabana played here in the first round of the Pakistan Open one year. It’s great that the courts are used here and how good are the chalets as accommodation!
“Well done Tahir Khanazada and his team for making it happen and thanks to DHA for their support. Karachi is certainly ready to host top squash players and treat them like they deserve to be treated.”
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Syed Ali Shah Bokhari (PAK)
[4] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) v Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)
[Q] Nosherwan Khan (PAK) v Farhan Zaman (PAK)
[2] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) v Aqib Hanif (PAK)
1st round:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Karamatullah Khan (PAK) 11-1, 11-6, 11-4 (25m)
Syed Ali Shah Bokhari (PAK) bt [Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, 11-9 (47m)
Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) bt [Q] Muhammad Shoaib Hassan (PAK) 11-13, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 (35m)
[4] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2 (45m)
[Q] Nosherwan Khan (PAK) bt [3] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 19-21, 11-9 (95m)
Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9 (67m)
Aqib Hanif (PAK) bt [WC] Kashif Khan (PAK) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (24m)
[2] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3 (26m)
Qualifying finals:
Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) bt Mahad Javed (PAK) 9-11, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Nosherwan Khan (PAK) bt Ammad Farid (PAK) 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3
Muhammad Shoaib Hassan (PAK) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 11-9, 12-10, 11-1
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt Abbas Maniar (USA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
1st qualifying round:
Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) bt Ahmad Amin (PAK) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Mahad Javed (PAK) bt Suleman Khan (PAK) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
Ammad Farid (PAK) bt Ismail Rauf (PAK) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
Nosherwan Khan (PAK) bt Naqash Shahid (PAK) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
Muhammad Shoaib Hassan (PAK) bt Mohammad Naeem (PAK) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6
Zahir Shah (PAK) bt Muhammad Yasir Khan (PAK) 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
Abbas Maniar (USA) bt Atta Ullah Shah (PAK) 11-7, 11-1, 11-2
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt Ali Nasir (PAK) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
