Contrasting Fortunes For Khans In London

The much-touted comeback by Pakistan squash legend Jansher Khan faltered in the first round of the Anscombe & Ringland London Open when the former world number one and record eight times world champion went down in four games to England's Scott Handley in the inaugural Tour event at the Cumberland Club in London.

But namesake Majid Khan, a 23-year-old qualifier who is also from Peshawar, restored Pakistani pride when he upset England's top seed Bradley Ball in straight games to claim an unexpected place in the last eight of the men's PSA Tour event.

Playing in his first event in London since winning the Super Series Finals in March 1998 - his last of 99 career PSA Tour titles - Jansher showed signs of his former brilliance as he took the opening game, much to the delight of the capacity crowd.

But the lack of match fitness soon began to show on the 38-year-old who retired shortly after losing the 1998 British Open final to British rival Peter Nicol. Third seed Handley, the world No54 from Oxfordshire with eight PSA titles to his name, soon regained the upper hand and ultimately clinched a 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-0 victory.

"I am very happy with the way I played, but three weeks is not enough training," Jansher told www.squashtalk.com. "I need two or three months."

Handley summed up his feeling afterwards succinctly: "Relieved," said the 32-year-old, who now becomes the highest seed in the event following the surprise exits of the top two seeds.

France's Camille Serme scored a notable upset in the women's WISPA World Tour event when she defeated fourth-seeded South African Tenille Swartz 9-5, 9-2, 9-1. The 18-year-old European Junior Champion from Creteil now takes on England's Deon Saffery for a place in the semi-finals.

Men's 1st round:
[Q] Majid Khan (PAK) bt [1] Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
[6] Tom Hoevenaars (NED) bt [Q] Tom Pashley (ENG) 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3
[3] Scott Handley (ENG) bt Jansher Khan (PAK) 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-0
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-10 (6-4), 11-7, 11-2
Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) bt [8] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0)
[Q] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [4] Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-10 (7-5)
Alex Stait (ENG) bt [5] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-7, 11-6, 11-10 (4-2)
John Rooney (IRL) bt [2] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

Women's 1st round:
[1] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG) 9-4, 9-0, 9-4
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [Q] Rachel Willmott (ENG) 9-7, 9-3, 9-4
[3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [Q] Celia Allamargot (FRA) 9-3, 9-0, 9-1
[7] Carla Khan (PAK) bt Adel Weir (RSA) 9-1, 9-0, 9-3
Deon Saffery (ENG) bt Kerri Shields (IRL) 4-9, 6-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-4
Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Tenille Swartz (RSA) 9-5, 9-2, 9-1
[6] Laura Mylotte (IRL) bt Soraya Renai (FRA) 9-3, 9-5, 9-1
[2] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 6-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-0