National Hierarchies Disrupted As Qualifiers Excel In Islamabad

Qualifiers Omar Elborolossy and Farhan Mehboob both upset higher-ranked fellow countrymen in today's first round of the COAS International to secure unexpected quarter-final slots in the PSA Tour event at Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan.

Elborolossy, a 31-year-old former world No14 making a Tour comeback after retiring at the end of 2004, faced Egyptian compatriot Omar Mosaad, the 19-year-old No6 seed who rounded off his junior career at the beginning of the year by winning the British Junior U19 Open title. Mosaad took the opening game, but the experienced Elborolossy fought back to clinch an 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9, 11-8 victory in 60 minutes - the longest match of the day.

Interestingly, Elborolossy now faces Pakistan's Aamir Atlas Khan, the player that Mosaad beat in January to win the British Open title for the Drysdale Cup in England. Khan, the 16-year-old No4 seed, beat Pakistan-born New Zealander Kashif Shuja 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-4.

Lower in the draw, one of two all-Pakistan clashes saw qualifier Farhan Mehboob, the 18-year-old Asian Junior Champion, despatch fifth seed Shahid Zaman - the event champion two years ago - 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8.

Mehboob now takes on Ong Beng Hee, the second seed from Malaysia, who defeated Pakistani qualifier Shamsul Islam Khan 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7.

Two further seeds failed to survive the first round: Dutchman Dylan Bennett, the No7 seed, went down 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 11-8 to unseeded Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz, while Hungarian Mark Krajcsak despatched Egypt's No8 seed Amr Mansi 11-6, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8.

Krajcsak goes on to face top seed Adrian Grant, the Englishman who won the title in 2004 and today overcame a first game deficit to beat Pakistan's Farzan Rasheed 4-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4.

1st round:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Farzan Rasheed (PAK) 4-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (37m)
Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt [8] Amr Mansi (EGY) 11-6, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8 (48m)
[4] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-4 (37m)
[Q] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9, 11-8 (60m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [7] Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 11-8 (48m)
[3] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Amjad Khan (PAK) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (17m)
[Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt [5] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 (40m)
[2] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7 (43m)