Mehboob Guarantees Pakistani Finalist In Zurich World Championship

A Pakistani finalist in the Men's World Junior Championship in Zurich is assured after Waqar Mehboob, a 5/8 seed, upset fourth-seeded Frenchman Gregoire Marche in the quarter-finals of the biennial World Squash Federation championship being staged for the first time in Switzerland.

Mehboob, the 16-year-old reigning Pakistan Junior champion from Peshawar, battled for 74 minutes to overcome the 18-year-old European Junior champion from Aix-en-Provence 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-0.

In a match which will ensure the first Pakistani finalist since 2004, Mehboob - in his maiden appearance in the event - will now take on compatriot Aamir Atlas Khan, the event's firm favourite after reaching the semi-finals both in 2004 and 2006, in

Khan celebrated his 18th birthday in fine style by beating Egyptian Andrew Wagih Shoukry 9-1, 9-5, 9-0 in 36 minutes.

The other semi-final will pitch local hero Nicolas Mueller, the third seed, against Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy, the No2 seed.

Mueller arrived at the event following successive European Squash Federation Junior Circuit victories in the German Open, the Pioneer Open and the Dutch Open. But the 18-year-old from Hirzel, near Zurich, dropped his first game of the championship in overcoming England's 5/8 seed Adrian Waller 9-5, 4-9, 9-3, 9-2 in 58 minutes.

The result ended English interest in the event - and also ended Waller's run of three successive straight games defeats by Switzerland's former European Junior champion.

Mohamed El Shorbagy, a 17-year-old from Alexandria who is yet to drop a game in the event, brushed aside Malaysia's 9/16 seed Ivan Yuen, winning 9-3, 9-5, 9-1 in 30 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [5/8] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 9-1, 9-5, 9-0 (36m)
[5/8] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt [4] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-0 (74m)
[3] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [5/8] Adrian Waller (ENG) 9-5, 4-9, 9-3, 9-2 (58m)
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [9/16] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 9-3, 9-5, 9-1 (30m)