Doha: Israr Ahmad of Pakistan defeated Syed Azlan Amjad of Qatar in a marathon five-game clash to win the under-19 category of the Qatar Junior Open squash tournament.
Yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Amjad went down 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-2 in a tussle which lasted nearly one hour.
Earlier in the semi-final, Ahmad stunned top seed and compatriot Muhammad Asim Khan 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-9. In the other semi-final, Amjad defeated Sajad Zareian of Iran 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 13-11.
Finals of four age group categories were also held yesterday.
In the under-11 category, second seed Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim of Pakistan defeated top seed Mohammed Ouda of Qatar 11-6, 11-5, 11-9.
Malaysia’s Muhammad Azhar won the under-13 title with a 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 victory over Mohammad Danial Gharooni of Iran.
The title for the under-15 section turned out to be an all-Malaysian affair with top seed Wang Peng Soon losing to Siow Yee Xian 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6. In the Under-17 section, Cheuk Nam Matthew Lai of Hongkong defeated Kashif Asif of Pakistan 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 to win the title.
Around 92 players from nine countries took part in tournament held in five age group categories.
Besides hosts Qatar, players from India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Armenia and Egypt, took part in the event.
The Doha Junior Open now begins and will be played today and tomorrow. THE PENINSULA
