Ahmed Axes Ayaz to Reach President Gold Cup Main Draw

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Pakistan’s Israr Ahmed came up with a scintillating display to down compatriot Ahsan Ayaz in the final qualifying round of the President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament, PSA M25 event and reach the main draw.

Ahmed took a two-game advantage after moving his opponent around court well and, despite surrendering the third game to Ayaz, held on to wrap up an 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 victory.

The 17-year-old will meet number four seed Todd Harrity in the opening round of the main draw action.

Raees Khan came up with a second successive upset to defeat Zahir Shah and earn a place in the main draw. Khan, who shocked Muhammad Shoiab Hassan in the first round of qualifying, will do battle with Danish Atlas Khan for a place in the quarter-final.

Top qualifying seed Asim Khan downed Waqas Mehboob after five tense games and is rewarded with a fixture against the main draw’s number one seed Omar Abdel Meguid up next.

Waqar Mehboob was the other qualifier to advance to the main draw after his win against Bilal Zakir and he goes up against fellow Pakistani Nasir Iqbal in the first round.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament 2015
[1] Asim Khan (PAK) bt [L] Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 3-2: 7-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 15-13 (75 mins)
[L] Raees Khan (PAK) bt [3] Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7 11-4, 11-7 (41 mins)
[6] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt Bilal Zakir (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 12-14, 12-10, 11-8 (44 mins)
[7] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt [2] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-1: 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 (58 mins)

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v [Q] Asim Khan (PAK)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) v [8] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)
[7] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) v Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR)
[Q] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) v [3] Nasir Iqbal (PAK)
[4] Todd Harrity (USA) v [Q] Israr Ahmed (PAK)
Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) v [6] Tayyab Aslam (PAK)
[5] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) v [Q] Raees Khan (PAK)
[WC] Abbas Shoukat (PAK) v [2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)