Asim Khan reaches Venus ABC Open quarter-finals after beating Syafiq Kamal
Pakistan’s Mohammad Asim Khan is into the quarter-finals of the Venus ABC Open International Squash Championship in Karachi. The eighth seed beat Malaysia’s Mohammad Syafiq Kamal 3-1 in the second round on Thursday.
Asim won 11-2, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6 in 48 minutes at the Asif Nawaz Squash Complex, Defence Authority Creek Club. The event is organised by the Sindh Squash Association. Asim had a bye in the opening round.
Lone Pakistani survivor
Asim is the only one of nine Pakistani players to progress beyond the opening round. The rest of the home contingent fell at the first hurdle, which makes his run the story of the week for the local crowd.
That also makes him the flag-bearer for Pakistan squash in an $82,000 event on home soil. The home crowd now has one player to rally behind as the tournament reaches the business end.
Asim Khan Venus ABC Open quarter-final test
The quarter-final brings a serious step up. Asim, the world No. 77, faces second seed Karim El Hammamy of Egypt on Friday. El Hammamy is one of the tournament favourites and will test every part of the Pakistani’s game.
Asim dropped only one game against Syafiq Kamal. His 11-2 opening game showed how sharp he was early, and his 11-7, 11-6 finish showed composure when it mattered. The 10-12 second game was the only wobble.
Strong field in Karachi
The Venus ABC Open carries $41,000 in prize money each for the men’s and women’s events. The combined purse is $82,000, which has drawn a competitive international field to Karachi.
In the other men’s results, top seed Curtis Malik of England beat Japan’s Naoki Hayashi. Ziad Ibrahim of Egypt beat Yassin Elshafei 3-0 in the only upset of the round. Fourth seed Yassin Shohdy and fifth seed Perry Malik also moved through.
The women’s draw is headed by top seed Lucy Turmel of England. Ainaa Amani of Malaysia and Tessa ter Sluis of the Netherlands are also seeded.
The quarter-finals are played on Friday. The finals are scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
Pakistan squash has produced notable results this year on the international stage (Pakistan’s squash silver at the Asian Games). A deep run by Asim in Karachi would add a home-soil highlight.
Note: some reports spell the event “Venice Open”. That is a typo. The official name is the Venus ABC Open, and this report uses it throughout.
Sources: Dawn reported Asim’s quarter-final run and Dunya News covered the second-round win.
FAQ
Who did Asim Khan beat to reach the quarter-finals?
Malaysia’s Mohammad Syafiq Kamal. Asim won 11-2, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6 in 48 minutes at the Asif Nawaz Squash Complex in Karachi.
Who does Asim Khan play in the quarter-final?
Second seed Karim El Hammamy of Egypt. The match is scheduled for Friday.
How many Pakistani players reached the second round?
Asim is the only one of nine Pakistani players to progress beyond the opening round.
What is the prize money at the Venus ABC Open?
$41,000 each for the men’s and women’s events, for a combined purse of $82,000. The finals are on Sunday, October 25.
