PSF-COMBAXX International RD2: Two Of Top Three Seeds Out

It was a shocking second day at the PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament, as two of the top three seeds, including the event’s top seed, were knocked out of the Challenger 10 level competition.

The biggest story of the day saw the tournament’s top seed, Khaled Labib, defeated by fellow Egyptian Abdallah Elmasry in straight games. Elmasry, the World No.176, was in complete control throughout the contest, winning 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 in less than half an hour, to book his place in the last eight of the event in Islamabad.

Malaysia’s Hafiz Zhafri also caused a big upset as he got the better of No.3 seed Alireza Shameli, the Iranian No.1, also in straight games. Winning the first game on a tie-break was crucial for the Malaysian, who went on to win in three in 32 minutes, to advance to the quarter finals.

Elsewhere, Pakistan’s Hamza Khan, the No.8 seed for the event, had to fight his way past Iran’s Sepehr Etemadpoor, with the 18-year-old eventually winning in five, after seeing the Iranian come back to take the fourth game. The rest of the draw will be filled by Pakistanis on home soil, with Noor and Farhan Zaman to face each other in one of the key clashes on quarter finals day.

The quarter finals of the PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament will take place on Friday, August 26, with the last eight doing battle to try and reach the semi-finals of the Challenger 10 level tournament.

Second Round Results: PSF-COMBAXX International Squash Tournament
[2] Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8 rtd (19m)
[5] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [WC] Muhammad Ammad (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)
[7] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) bt Naveed Rehman (PAK) 3-1: 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (45m)
Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt [3] Alireza Shameli (IRI) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Salman Saleem (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 (29m)
[8] Hamza Khan (PAK) bt Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) 3-2: 5-11, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (42m)
[6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (24m)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) bt [1] Khaled Labib (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (28m)

Quarter Finals Draw: To Be Played Friday, August 26
[2] Noor Zaman (PAK) v [5] Farhan Zaman (PAK)
[7] Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) v Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) v [8] Hamza Khan (PAK)
[6] Ahsan Ayaz (PAK) v Abdallah Elmasry (EGY)