Beng Hee Celebrates Long-Awaited Success

Almost three years after last being on the winner's podium of a PSA Tour event, Malaysian Ong Beng Hee celebrated an impressive title victory in the CNS International in Pakistan - fighting back from 0/2 down to defeat local hero Shahid Zaman in today's final at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan/Jahangir Khan Squash Complex in Karachi.

It was third seed Beng Hee's third five-game battle in the $25,000 event - and followed his 3/2 upset of England's top seed Adrian Grant in the semi-finals.

Unseeded Shahid Zaman, the world No42, had reached the final after a series of upsets including the eighth, fourth and second seeds. The hard-hitter from Quetta took control from the outset and wrapped up the first two games in 20 minutes.

But Ong Beng Hee, who became Asian champion for the third successive time in June, rediscovered his form and overwhelmed his opponent from the beginning of the third game - eventually claiming an incredible 6-11 8-11 11-6 11-5 11-5 victory in 47 minutes to win his first PSA Tour title since January 2002.

Zaman conceded that his five-game marathon semi-final win over the second seed had taken its toll: "The match against (Graham) Ryding left me quite drained but even then I tried my best against Beng Hee. But he is a more experienced player than I am and played well to beat me after losing the first two games," he said.

Beng Hee's victory takes his PSA title haul to eight - and will have given the 24-year-old world No18 a major confidence boost on the eve of the Qatar Men's World Open in Doha, which begins on Sunday (28 November). The success is also his first since he moved his UK base from London to Harrogate in Yorkshire.

Final:
[3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (47m)