Pakistan Open Squash: Egypt’s El Shorbagy off to flying start

ISLAMABAD: Just days after playing marathon World Open final against his elder brother, title favourite Marwan El Shorbagy (Egypt) got off to a blazing start in the $ 50000 Pakistan Open Tuesday with a straight sets win against Hong Kong’s Chi Him Wong.

The Egyptian top seed won 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 inside 29 minutes against relatively strong opponent to make his intentions clear. Only on Sunday, he lost epic final against his much experienced brother Mohamed El Shorbagy in Manchester.

The younger El Shorbagy lost that battle following 71 minutes of intense battle. For the top seed there was no such worries here against Chi Him as he managed an easy win to make it to the second round. “It was tough and demanding World Open where you find tough challenge on every step. I made it to the final only to lose the battle in five-game thriller. I still feel after effects of tough World Open,” he said. There were moments of consolation for the Hong Kong player in the match as he went neck and neck against Marwan El Shorbagy only to lose the way at the end.

There was no good news for the Pakistan players as all those pitted against foreign players in the first round lost tamely. Farhan Zaman, Ahsan Ayaz and Tayyab Aslam was up against their countrymen and succeeded in making to the next round.

Farhan beat Waqar Mehboob (Pak) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 while Ahsan proved too good for M Shoaib Hassan (Pak) winning in straight games 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (27 Min). Tayyab Aslam fought hard against Syed Ali Bukhari (Pak) before winning 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 (43 min).

Pakistan main hope Farhan Mehboob who recently had won $25000 title in Pakistan lost in straight games. Egyptian Mazen Gamal defeated him 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 inside 27 minutes. Farhan who had just come out of illness never was able to pose any threat to well versed Egyptian losing the battle easily. Shahjahan Khan (Pak) was the only Pakistan offering a tough fight to a foreign player as he was engaged in five-game battle against Shehab Essam (Egy) before losing the 58 minute battle.

Shahjahan was seen playing neat game and snatching two of the first four games before losing the stamina to go for a kill. He lost the decisive game 11-2 but was succeeded in giving good account of himself. In ladies CAS Open, Ainie Au (Hong Kong) got off to easy stat as her opponent Rachel Arnold (Mas) had to retired hurt because of injury. Pakistan wildcard holder Sadia Gul lost to Mayar Hany (Egy) in straight games 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.

Air Marshal Shahid Akhtar Alvi, Senior Vice President Pakistan Squash Federation declared the tournament open.

Results: CAS international women: Ainie Au (HKG) bt Rachel Arnold (Mas) 11-4 (Retd); Hana Moataz (Egy)bt Sarah Cardwell (Aus)11-8, 11-8,11-7; Rowan Elaraby (Egy) bt Nouran El-Torky (Egy) 11-7, 11-8, 12-10; Mayar Hany (Egy) bt Sadia Gul (Pak) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4; Nadine Shahin (Egy) bt Hana Ramadan (Egy) 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8; Rachael Gringham (Aus) bt Tong Tsz Wing (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-2; Sivasangari Subramaniam (Mas) bt Nada Abbas (Egy) 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11; Hania El Hammamy (Egy) bt Enora Villard (Aus)14-12, 11-5, 15-13.

Pakistan Open (men): Marwan El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Chi Him Wong (Hkg) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7; Mohd Syafiz Kamal (Mas) bt Kashif Asif (Pak) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7; Farhan Zaman (Pak)bt Waqar Mehboob (Pak) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5; Mazen Hesham (Egy) bt Baptiste Masotti (Fra) 11-4,11-5, 11-5; Tsz Fung Yip (Hkg) bt Asim Khan (Pak) 11-6,11-6, 6-11,11-8; Eain Yow Ng (Mas) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-6,11-3, 11-2; Ahsan Ayaz (Pak) bt M Shoaib Hassan (Pak) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9; Zahed Mohamed (Egy) bt Rui Soares (Por) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9; Leo Au (Hkg) bt Edmon Lopez (Esp)11-5, 11-6, 11-4; Shehab Essam (Egy) bt Shahjahan Khan (Pak) 11-5, 3-11,11-6, 2-11, 11-2; Mazen Gamal (Egy) bt Farhan Mehboob (Pak) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4; Max Lee (Hkg) bt Adeen Idrakie (Mas)11-5, 11-4,11-3; Nafizwan Adnan (Mas) bt Israr Ahmad (Pak) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7; Peter Creed (Wal) bt Zeeshan Khan (Pak) 11-4, 11-2, 11-3; Tayyab Aslam (Pak) bt Syed Ali Bukhari (Pak)11-4, 9-11,11-5, 11-6; Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy) bt Auguste Dussaourd (France) 11-2, 11-5, 11-2.