Giant-Killer Farag Makes Mumbai Final

Egyptian Ali Farag, the 22-year-old qualifier who knocked tournament favourite Saurav Ghosal out of the competition in the opening round, booked his place in the final of the CCI PSA International Championship after his latest giant-killing conquest in the PSA International 25 squash event at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai.

The world No192 from Cairo continued his sensational form this week, following up his wins over Ghosal and number eight seed Kristian Frost Olesen by scalping compatriot and sixth seed Zahed Mohamed in a 56-minute 11-7, 15-13, 10-12, 11-6 win - to reach his sixth Tour final.

Farag, a student at Harvard University in the USA competing in only his second Tour event of the year, will face Pakistan's world No53 Nasir Iqbal in the final after the 20-year-old from Peshawar overcame a determined challenge from Indian No2 and world No75 Mahesh Mangaonkar to register an 11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 win in the other semi-final.

It promises to be an absorbing contest between the pairing, with Iqbal hoping to add to the FMC Pakistan International Circuit and Emerson Racquet Club Pro Series titles he has already secured so far on the PSA World Tour in 2014.

"It was a very tough match," admitted Iqbal following the win over local favourite Mangaonkar which takes him into his 13th Tour final.

"Mahesh is in form, especially after beating (second seed) Ong Beng Hee in the quarter-finals.

"I controlled the first two sets though I was loose in the third which gave him a chance to recover. I think in the end he tired out and that gave me a chance to come back and win it."