Nasir Iqbal and Aamir Khan meet top two seeds in last four of Dubai Cup
By LIESL GOECKER – Squash Mad Reporter in Dubai
Pakistan players Nasir Iqbal and Aamir Atlas Khan upset the seedings to move into the semi-finals of the 2014 Dubai Squash Cup where they will face top seeds Karim Abdel Gawad and Chris Simpson for a place in the final.
Unseeded Khan completed an impressive 3-0 victory over Malaysian number eight seed Muhd Asyraf Azan, taking control of the match from the opening exchanges and looking comfortable through to set up a last four encounter with England’s Simpson.
“It was good playing today and I’m happy to be in the semifinal,” said Khan.
“Hopefully tomorrow I will also do my best against Chris.”
Iqbal, who was the only Pakistani player to appear in the second round of the recent PSA World Championship in Qatar, secured his place in the last four with a well-earned win over Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar, the number three seed.
Iqbal raced into a two-game lead before Abouelghar got a footing in the match, but it was 20-year-old Iqbal who managed to keep his nerve to take the match in a tense tie-breaker in the fourth game.
He will now face top seed Gawad of Egypt for a place in the final.
Results: 2014 Dubai Squash Cup, Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [6] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 [71m] [5] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12 [45m] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [8] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 [40m] [2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 [45m]
Semi-final Draw:
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [5] Nasir Iqbal (PAK)
Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v [2] Chris Simpson (ENG)
Picture by NITESH SQUARE