Tsukue Stretches Koukal In Kobe

Top seed Jan Koukal duly claimed his place in the semi-finals of the Pro Squash Kansai in Japan - but the Czech number one was taken the full distance before overcoming a spirited performance by local hero Shinnosuke Tsukue in today's quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its second year at Entente Fitness Club in Kobe.

Tsukue, a 23-year-old from Kanagawa, made his breakthrough in the opening round when he outplayed Hong Kong's higher-ranked Dick Lau.

And despite a gap of more than 120 ranking places between the pair, the Japanese underdog took the opening game against Koukal - then drew level after the fourth to force the match into a decider.

But world No47 Koukal held his nerve to close out the match 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 after 65 minutes to secure his anticipated place in the last four following the longest match of the day.

Koukal will now meet Leo Au, the No4 seed from Hong Kong who despatched England's Nathan Lake 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3.

The other semi will be the all-Malaysian affair predicted by the seedings between Muhd Asyraf Azan and Kamran Khan.

In a match described by the organisers as "the most comical match ever in Prosquash", second seed Azan defeated Carlos Cornes Ribadas of Spain 11-9, 11-6, 14-12.

Third seed Khan needed four games to see off English teenager Declan James 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 in 64 minutes.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) v [4] Leo Au (HKG)
[2] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) v [3] Kamran Khan (MAS)

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