Asian Squash Hero Jahangir Khan Witnesses Start Of Asian Games

Asian squash legend Jahangir Khan celebrated his 43rd birthday today at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, where he attended the first day's play in the 15th Asian Games.

Khan, the record ten-times British Open champion from Pakistan who is now President of the World Squash Federation (WSF), was joined by Asian Squash Federation (ASF) President Mr N Ramachandran.

There were no surprises in the completed first round of the men's event and the top half of the draw in the women's championship.

Sun Kin Peng, of Macau, was the only winner taken to more than three games when Lebanon's Michel Zeinaty clinched the second to level the match. After a tough third game, Peng extended his lead before securing a place in the second round after a 9-4, 3-9, 9-7, 9-4 victory.

After a bye in the first round, Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee begins his men's title defence on Monday against Jordan's Ahmad Al Zabidi. Beng Hee, the No2 seed, is expected to meet compatriot Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the top seed, in the final on Thursday.

Although the top half of the women's event took place today, with the lower half being played on Monday, favourite Nicol David will not enter the fray until the quarter-finals on Tuesday after receiving a first round bye. The 23-year-old Malaysian arrives in Qatar as the World champion for the second successive year, after clinching the title in sensational style last month in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

David is eager to reclaim the Asian Games title from Hong Kong rival Rebecca Chiu. Winner of her fifth successive Asian Championship title earlier this year in Taiwan, David surrendered her Games crown to Chiu in the 2002 event in South Korea - and is expected to face the second seed in the women's final at the Khalifa Complex.

"It was a fine start to a wonderfully-organised event," said ASF Technical Director Major Maniam. "Local officials Mr Khalid Obaidly and Mr Gamal Jasem have worked relentlessly to ensure a smooth running of the event."

Men's 1st round:
Kim Sung Young (KOR) bt Hussain Khalil Ali (BRN) 9-5, 9-1, 9-4
Navin Samarasinghe (SRI) bt Shihaib Ali-A (IRQ) 9-4, 9-7, 9-0
[5/8] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Ali Al Miski (LIB) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1
[5/8] Wai Hang Wong (HKG) bt Abdul Rahman Al-Malki (QAT) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Sun Kin Peng (MAC) bt Michel Zeinaty (LIB) 9-4, 3-9, 9-7, 9-4
Ricky Espinola (PHI) bt Mohammad Al Zbaidi (JOR) w/o
Eranga Alwis (SRI) bt Eyad Al Samaheeji (BRN) 9-2, 9-3, 9-3
Kim Dong Woo (KOR) bt Abdulhadi Al Marri (QAT) 9-1, 9-1, 9-4
[5/8] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Armando Amante (MAC) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0
[5/8] Ali Alramezi (KUW) bt Robert Garcia (PHI) 9-2, 9-4, 9-5
Ahmad Al Zabidi (JOR) bt Pinghua Cai (CHN) w/o

Women's 1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bye
[5/8] Eun Ok Park (KOR) bt Dareen Toro (AHO) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
[5/8] Mami Nishio (JPN) bt Nirasha Guruge (SRI) 9-1, 9-2, 9-1
[3/4] Christina Mak (HKG) bt Si Man Wendy Chan (MAC) 9-2, 9-4, 9-3