close
Sunday October 06, 2024

Ashab wins Kanso Open

By Our Correspondent
July 09, 2024
Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan (L) poses with the trophy after winning Kanso Men Open Presented By Houston Squash Club.— Instagram/jahanzeb.masood
Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan (L) poses with the trophy after winning Kanso Men Open Presented By Houston Squash Club.— Instagram/jahanzeb.masood

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan won the $9000 Kanso Men Open in the US on Monday. Third seed Ashab overpowered fourth seed Veer Chotrani from India 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 in 80 minutes.

The young Indian star – this year’s National Collegiate Men’s Individual champion – was looking to cap a breakout year on the PSA Tour with his fourth title of the season, but fell behind early as Ashab Irfan took game one 11-7.

A native of Pakistan, Ashab Irfan trains regularly at the Houston Squash Club so had plenty of home support on his side, and despite losing game two 11-7, he moved within one game of victory by edging a tight third-game tiebreak, 13-11. The No 4 seed hit back to force a decider, winning the fourth 11-8, but Ashab Irfan got over the line in the fifth, as Chotrani carved a backhand serve return into the tin at 10-8 down.