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Pakistan crush India to retain Asian Squash title Back To Main

Pakistan Squash Federation

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan successfully defend their title by thrashing top seed and arch-rivals India 2-0 in the final to the 16th Asian Senior Squash Team Championship, which was held in Kuwait on Saturday, this was revealed by Wing Commander Abdul Wahab Marwat, secretary Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) told TheNation on Saturday.According to details, Pakistan young guns Farhan Zaman and Farhan Mehboob both won their respective matches in tight five games, as they were playing against much superior opponents who had much higher world rankings.

In the first match Farhan Zaman defeted Siddarth Sechde, world number 48, 3-2. Farhan won the first two games 11-7 and 11-6. Siddarth used his experience and bounced back to win next two games 13-11 and 11-7 to take the match into deciding fifth game. Farhan Zaman fought back and hold on to his nerves to seal the fate of the tie 11-9, thus providing Pakistan 1-0 advantage.In the second match, Farhan Mehboob made a great comeback after going down in first two games against world number 25 Saurav Ghosai and won the remaining three on trot to win the match as well as championship for Pakistan.

Farhan lost first game 10- and second game 6-11 and just when things were looking grim for Pakistan and Indians were smelling victory to level the match at 1-1, Farhan Mehboob showed his class and used all his previous experience of playing at this level and bounced back to win third game 11-7. Farham won next game 11-6 to take the match into the deciding game which he eventually won 11-9, thus giving Pakistan a landslide victory and helping the country in winning a major squash event after a gap of quite some time.

While talking exclusively with this scribe Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Senior Vice President, Air Vice Marshall Razi Nawab said: “It is a very important victory as far as Pakistan is concerned as after a very long time our team has managed to bring joy in this particular sports.” He congratulated entire nation on this huge victory especially against India, who were the top seeds of the event and were the firm favourites.

“With this remarkable victory against all the odds, as one should keep in mind that we have send a team mainly comprising juniors and they were first time playing at senior level. But to their credit they have made us proud. I also like to take this opportunity to express my heartiest congratulations to team’s head coach Jamshed Gul, who in a very short span of time done the wonders for the country. We at the federation will provide him every possible help, so he could take the country to the heights where once we were.”Razi said that the victory had proved that our players had all the potential and skills despite lack of the international exposure, as international teams and players are not coming to the country because of so-called security concerns.

He said the PSF would arrange tours and matches for Pakistani players at different destinations to give the youngsters much needed exposure.He said the PSF would hold a meeting soon with its president Air Marshall Tahir Rafiq Butt and then would announce handsome cash awards and other incentives for the victorious team and officials.