Aamir Atlas Khan in action at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. -Photo by AFP

Pakistan’s squash team easily beat their Sri Lankan counterparts 3-0 and Kuwait 2-1 in the team event of men’s pool A matches of the ongoing Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Farhan Mahboob defeated Samarasinghe Navin Harish by 12-10, 11-02,11-03 in the first game of the team. Lahore based Yasir Butt then overcame Surwarish Ginah by 14-12, 08-11, 11-01, 11-09 before Danish Atlas won the dead rubber match against Jayasuria Binura by 11-06, 11-07, and 11-02.

Meanwhile, in another pool A match, Pakistan survived a spirited assault from Kuwait when its top player Amir Atlas Khan lost his match to Abdullah Almezaynen 11-09, 09-11, 04-11, 02-04.

However, Khan later leveled arrears after beating Falah Mohammad in straight sets and his cousin Farhan Mehboob sealed the victory for Pakistan, dispatching Nasser Alramezi also in straight sets. -PPI

Mohamad Azlan Iskandar (red) of Malaysia plays Aamir Atlas Khan of Pakistan in the men's single squash final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou. -Photo by Reuters

Dawn.com Sports Desk

Aamir Atlas Khan’s great run at the 16th Asian Games squash competition came to a halt in the final courtesy a brilliant performance by Malaysia’s Mohammad Azlan Iskander.

World No. 15 Iskander overpowered Khan, the nephew of former world champion Jansher Khan, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6. Iskander along with Malaysia’s top women’s player Nicol David gave their country a squash double at the Games. David, who has been world number one for a record 56 consecutive months, arrived in Guangzhou having won the Commonwealth Games title in New Delhi in October.

“Every point felt so long and I have to keep myself focused all time,” Iskander said.

Khan engaged Iskander in long rallies in all the three games, but felt he had not enough energy left in him to compete in the final after playing Ong in the semifinals.

“Azlan played well and responded by picking the balls from all corners of the court,” Khan said.

“But I feel good that after a long time we had won at least silver medal.”

Pakistan, which ruled the squash world through Jansher and Jehangir Khan until the late 1990s, last time won gold in the Asian Games through Zarak Jehan Khan in 1998.

However, Khan’s silver-medal-winning performance will do the game in the country a world of good.