Pakistan thrash India by 2-1 in World Junior Team Squash Championship
Defending champions Pakistan defeated 5th seeds India by 2-1 as Harris Qasim and Abbas Zeb defeated Indian players to move into the quarter-finals of the WSF World Junior Team Squash Championship in Chennai, India.
The last match of the day was the much-anticipated clash between hosts and fifth seeds India and 11th-seeded defending champions Pakistan, at Express Avenue of course.
After staying second in their group, Pakistan were drawn against India in the pre-quarter-finals and the battle was won by Pakistan 2-0. In the first match, Harris Qasim beat Rahul Baitha while Abbas Zeb defeated Yash Fadte in the second match.
In front of a packed and noisy crowd anticipating India’s first-ever win over their local rivals in this event, it started well as Rahul Baitha took the first game by 11-5. But Pakistan’s Harris Qasim, playing calm and controlled squash, got the better of a long second game by 14-16 in which both had their chances, then took control in the next two games to put Pakistan ahead with the final score line of 5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-7.
In the number one string India’s Yash Fadte also started strongly as he won the opening game by 11-6, but 90th ranked Abbas Zeb, having saved game ball on the way to winning the second by 11-9, took control of the match and with Fadte rattled and the crowd quiet, he finished off the match in four to put Pakistan into their 12th quarter-final in a row with the final score line of 6-11 11-9 12-10 11-2.
There was a consolation point for India in the third match when Veer Chortani won 2-0 against Muhammad Uzair with the score of 12-10, 11-5.
“We’re just so relieved now. There was a lot of pressure. Our boys started slowly but they both picked up the pace and I’m proud of how they handled it,” Pakistan coach Mo Yasin said !
Today Pakistan will face third seed England in the quarter-finals at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai on Friday(27 july) at 5:30 pm (PST).
