Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (October 13, 2021):-Top seed, Tayyab Aslam defeated foreigner guy from Hong Kong Tsz Kwan Lau 3-1 in the first quarterfinal to secure the berth in the top-4 stage of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Championship 2021 at Mushaf Squash Complex Islamabad on Wednesday. The final score-line was 10-12, 11-9, 11-6 and 11-8, as the match wasted 42 minutes.
In the first game, Kwan Lau started the game with confidence in the state of art four-glass-wall court and earned the lead 3-0 and showed his determination but local boy Tayyab recovered the deficit very soon and level the game 3-3. Tayyab maintained his control on the game and made the score 10-5 and it seemed that he would finish the game easily. Then Kwan Lau came from behind by playing some powerful storks and leveled the score 10-10, as he ended at 12-10 and got a vital lead 1-0 in the crucial match.
Meanwhile, in the second game, the top seed was looking entirely different in the second game after receiving some tips from his coach during a two minutes break, as he was ahead 7-1. Twan Lau showed some aggression and got three back-to-back points, as the game score went up to 7-4. At this stage Tayyab played nice class drop shots and powerful forehands drives to make the score 10-8, as he won the game at 11-9 to square the match 1-1.
Tayyab played the third game with the same pace after equalizing the match 1-1, as he earned early points but in the middle of game both players were amusing the handful of spectators by their quality of game, as the scoreboard was moving quickly. Tayyab made the lead 2-1, as his opponent hit on the tin four times. The game score was 11-6.
In the fourth game went neck-to-neck, as it was leveled at 3-3 and 7-7, on this stage, Pakistan number one player got three vital points in a row and reached at match point 10-7. Tayyab Aslam finished the game in style and claimed an important victory in the international squash showpiece that carried prize money of US$30000. He showed the exit to overseas challenger Twan Lau at 10-9 after a 42 minutes game.
In his post- match comments, Tayyab Aslam said that he was happy with this win. “After losing my first game my coach advised me to keep the opponent player ahead, as he was playing good strokes from behind the middle line. So I entered the court with determination to overcome him. I will not repeat mistakes, which I had made in the first game, “said out of breathed Tayyab.
CAS International Squash Championship 2021 is being played under the banner of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in collaboration with Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Serena Hotels and Combaxx Sports. The final will be played on October 15 at the same venue.
Results (Men’s Quarterfinals):
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) beat Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (42 Min)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) beat Farhan Zaman (PAK) 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8 (40 Min)
Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) beat Max Lee (HKG) by 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 (24 Min)
Henry Leung (HKG) got walkover against Karim El Hammamy (EGY).
Results (Women’s Quarterfinals):
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) beat Nadia Pfister (SUI) 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 (23 Min)
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) beat Farah Momen (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (18 Min)
Nadeen Kotb (EGY) beat Sadia Gul (PAK) 11-4, 11-1, 11-1 (10 Min)
Marie Stephan (FRA) beat Noor Ul Huda (PAK) 11-2, 11-0, 11-6 (14 Min).
