Zahed to challenge ElShorbagy as Pakistan Open enters semifinals stage
Egyptians seals three out of four berths as Pakistan Open squash championship enters in semifinals stage at Mushaf Squash Complex Islamabad.
World no.5 and top seeded Egyptian Marwan ElShorbagy outsmarted countryman and No. 8 seed Mezan Hasham in three straight games to qualify for the semifinal. Another Egyptian and No.3 seed Zahed Mohamed defeated Malaysian Eain yow Ng 3-1 while No.4 seed Leo Au from Hong Kong overpower compatriot and No.5 Max Lee in a thrilling match by 3-2 and No. 2 seed Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar in another exiting game thrashes No.7 Malaysian Nafiizwan Adnan 3-2 to complete semifinal lineup.
Marwan from Egypt comfortably make his way to the semifinal after defeating Mezan Hasham with his powerful smashes by 11-8, 11-8, 11-6. The second quarterfinal saw some exiting game from Eian Yow Ng and Zahed Mohammed and the Egyptian after winning the first games was little relaxed and Malaysian Yow Ng took advantage and won the third game but in the fourth game Mohamed played with hid full strength and won the match by 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11.
Leo Au from Hong Kong faced tough challenge from his countryman Max Lee as the match ended on the fifth game. Lee was playing equally well before he got retired in the 5th game after an injury. Leo won the first game fighting hard against the No.5 seed 13-11 but Max Lee won second game comprehensively by 11-4. Leo Au, after the second game came hard on No.5 seed and won the third and fourth game 11-8. Once again Lee fought back and won the fourth set 11-7. In the last game Lee was just 1 point down but due to injury he could not continue his game and Leo Au qualifies for the semifinal. The last quarterfinal was played between Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar and Malaysian Nafiizwan Adnan where Adnan gave a good account of himself before bowing out in four games against Abouelghar. Adnan won the first game by 11-8 but Abouelghar came with a counter strategy and won the second game by 11-6. The third game saw Adnan winning once again 11-9 and takes lead by 2-1 games but in the fourth and fifth game, Egyptian played exceptionally well and convincingly won the last two games by 11-5 and 11-7 to qualify for the semifinal.
Marwan ElShorbagy to face the challenge of his countryman Zahed Mohamed in the first semifinal while Mohamed Abouelghar to play against Leo Au from Hong Kong in the second semifinal of the championship.
Following are the scores
Pakistan Open Squash Championship - Day 3
| 1 | Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) | def. | Mezan Hasham (EGY) | 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 |
| 2 | Zahed Mohamed (EGY) | def. | Eain yow Ng (MAS) | 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 |
| 3 | Leo Au (HKG) | def. | Max Lee (HKG) | 13-11, 4-11, 11-8, 7-11, 5-4 (Retired) |
| 4 | Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) | def. | Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) | 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 |
