31st National Games: Aamir Atlas Khan of Pakistan takes Squash gold
Asian Gold medallist Aamir Atlas Khan defeated compatriot and title defender Farhan Mehboob to bag the gold medal at the 31st National Games being played at the Pakistan Air Force Hashim Khan Squash Complex in Peshawar.
Amongst a huge amount of spectators, the two professionals battled it out against each other in an arduous five-set match. Aamir got off to a good start taking the first set 11-9. He went on to take the second set 11-4. By the third set, Farhan raised his game
and took the set 13-11. He followed it up with a 11-5 win in the fourth set. After going nip and tuck all through the match, Aamir came back in the deciding fifth set to take it 11-3 and clinched the championship gold.
Farhan Mehboob failed to defend his title, having won the 29th and 30th National Games in Quetta and Karachi respectively. His reign was ended by opponent and cousin Aamir Atlas Khan.
Syed Aqil Shah, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Sports Minister, was the chief guest at the tournament and presented the medal to winner. Additionally, former World Champion Qamar Zaman Khan was also present at the event.
Prior to making it through to the final, Aamir Atlas Khan defeated fellow countryman Waqar Mahboob of Peshawar in the semi-finals of the championship. Aamir took the first set 11-8; the second set 11-6 and the third set 11-5 to eliminate Mahboob from the tournament.
Meanwhile, representing Wapda, Farhan Mehboob annihilated Farhan Zaman Khan, who was representing the Pakistan Air Force in the semi-final match played between the two.
Khan initiated the match with a 13-11 win in the first set. However, Mehboob took the second set 11-7. Farhan bounced back to take the third set 11-9 just before Mehboob took the fourth set 11-6. Finally, Mehboob took the deciding fifth set 11-9 to proceed
further in the tournament.
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