ISLAMABAD:Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal have made it to the semifinals of the 21st Asian Individual Squash Championship for Men & Women organized by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) here at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Friday.
The quarterfinals of both Men & Women events were played.
In the men’s event quarterfinals, Nasir Iqbal outplayed Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG) by 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (45 Min) while Ng Eain Yow (MAS) downed Mohammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Kamal (MAS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (36 Min), Lau Tsz Kwan (HKG) beat Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 5-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 13-11 (70 Min) and Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) defeated Yuen Chee Wern (MAS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (23 Min).
In the women’s event quarterfinals, Liu Tsz Ling (HKG) beat Noor Ainaa (MAS) 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6 (35 Min), Tong Tsz Wing (HKG) beat Aifa Binti Azman (MAS) 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 12-10 (50 Min), Ho Tze Lok (HKG) beat Chan Yiwen (MAS) 11-5, 14-12, 11-9 (36 Min) and Rachel Mae Arnold (MAS) beat Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (22 Min).
The semifinals of the championship would be played on Saturday, 21. Liu Tsz Ling would face Tong Tsz Wing at 1400hrs, Ng Eain Yow will play Lau Tsz Kwan at 1445hrs, Ho Tze Lok will be up against Rachel Mae Arnold at 1530hrs and Nasir Iqbal would face Yip Tsz Fung at 1615hrs.
It may be mentioned here that the Men event had a draw of 32 players whereas, the Women event included 16 players’ draw. Apart from Pakistan, a group of international players, officials and referees from Hong Kong, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Sri Lanka were featuring in the championship. In Men’s event, there were four players each from Hong Kong, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, six from Pakistan and two from Qatar whereas, in Women’s event, there were four players each from Hong Kong and Malaysia while six from Pakistan and two from Sri Lanka.