DHA Islamabad Championship: Khan Claims Second Win Of Season

Pakistan’s Asim Khan came into the DHA Islamabad International Squash Championship as the top seed, and on Wednesday evening, he claimed his second victory of the 2021-2022 campaign.

Khan, the World No.60, as the favourite for the Challenger 10 level competition, and after receiving a bye through the opening round, the Pakistani then got the better of Iranian No.1 Alireza Shameli in straight games.

He then overcame the challenge of compatriot Ahsan Ayaz, also in straight games, to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. There, he lost the first game to another Pakistani in Israr Ahmed, but came through after his opponent had to retire through injury.

Khan then took on the tournament’s surprise package, the unseeded Noor Zaman, in the final on Wednesday, and fell behind after losing the first game on a tie-break. He fought back to win the next two games to hold the advantage, but the young Pakistani send the match into a deciding game.

It was the World No.60 that eventually took the victory though, winning 11-6 in the final game to claim his second title of the season, following a win at the Punjab International Open at the back end of 2021.

Results: DHA Islamabad International Squash Championship
Final
[1] Asim Khan (PAK) bt Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-2: 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (43m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Asim Khan (PAK) bt [5] Israr Ahmed (PAK) 3-1: 8-11 retired
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [4] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 3-1: 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 (34m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Asim Khan (PAK) bt Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 1-6, 11-5 (33m)
[5] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt Seif Shenawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 15-13, 11-5 (37m)
[4] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [7] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 (41m)
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-2: 11-13, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (50m)

Round Two
[1] Asim Khan (PAK) bt Alireza Shameli (IRI) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (37m)
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt [6] Khaled Labib (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (23m)
[5] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt [WC] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 3-0: 13-11, 11-1, 11-8 (23m)
Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [3] Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 3-1: 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (42m)
[4] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Ong Sai Hung (MAS) 3-1: 11-2, 2-11, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)
[7] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) bt Amaad Fareed (PAK) 3-2: 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (51m)
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [8] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) 3-2: 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 3-11, 11-5 (38m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [2] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (25m)

Round One
Alireza Shameli (IRI) bt [WC] Khushal Riaz Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (25m)
Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt Hamza Sharif (PAK) 3-1: 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 (33m)
[WC] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Farhan Zaman (PAK) 3-0: 13-11, 11-8, 14-12 (28m)
Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5 (28m)
Ong Sai Hung (MAS) bt Saeed Abdul (PAK) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (30m)
Amaad Fareed (PAK) bt [WC] Muhammad Ammad (PAK) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 11-5 (15m)
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Salman Saleem (PAK) 3-0: 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 (25m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)