Before the final match ‘’it was my prediction that Egyptian Abouelghar will be the new champion
‘’I asked to Mr.Mohsin Ali the President ‘’RISJA ‘’sir’’ the body language of the Abouelghar looking very clear’’ Abouelghar is looking normal and he will win here today
MOHAMED ABOUELGHAR OF EGYPT CLINCHES THE TROPHY OF SERENA HOTELS-CAS INTERNATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP 2015
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad: – Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt won the final match of the Serena Hotels-Chief of Air Staff International Squash Championship, 2015 played at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad. Before the final match ‘’it was my prediction that Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar will be the new champion ‘’I asked to Mr.Mohsin Ali the President ‘’RISJA ‘’sir’’ the body language of the Abouelghar looking very clear’’ Abouelghar is looking normal and he will win here today ‘but nobody except me was confident about the victory ‘’ no pressure was seen on Abouelghar in whole final match. ’’and at the end Yes ‘It was a big upset as Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar clinched title after winning the final match of the Serena Hotels-Chief of Air Staff International Squash Championship, 2015 played at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad. The final was a thrilling contest between two Egyptians Defending Champion Omar Abdel Meguid and Mohamed Abouelghar. Omar Abdel Meguid won the first game easily with the game score 11/7. The second game was won by Mohamed Abouelghar with the game score11/9. He consolidated his grip on the match by winning the third game with the game score 13/11. Omar Abdel Meguid came back in the match by winning the fourth game with the score 11/6. The last game was won by Mohamed Abouelghar with the game score 11/9, earning him the championship trophy. The match lasted for 78 minutes. Abouelghar won the final against his country fellow 3-2 in the final match. Omar Abdel Meguid Omar Abdel Meguid was the hot favorite to retain the title.
The final was marred by a series of conduct warnings and two strokes were awarded against Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar, who time and again lost his temper and pushed Omar, used highly objectionable language even against referee and termed decisions against him as shame.
Referee M Fayyaz of Hong Kong first awarded stroke against Abouelghar for misuse of racket and then for using word shame,on other hand surprisingly, Omar looked relatively cool and composed and not the one, hot headed everybody knows.
Strangely, he enjoyed crowd support too, which was quite strange as he was never known for crowd favorite. Omar started the first game on slow pace and was 4-6 and then 5-7 down, but then he made a comeback to win next six points in a row to clinch the game 11-7 in 8 minutes. Omar was soon 1-3 down in the second game, but then a see-saw game was witnessed as the score was 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 7-9, 7-10, but Omar then fought back and made it 9-10, before losing the game 9-11 in 17 minutes. The third game was marred by highly unsporting behavior by Abouelghar, who looked very upset despite a few close calls went in his favor. Omar was leading 3-0, before Abouelghar won next four points to make it 4-3, then it was 4-4, 5-5, 7-7, 7-9, 8-10, 10-10, 11-10, 11-11, 11-12 and 11-13, as Abouelghar commanded 2-1 lead and won the third game in 22 minutes. Omar took 2-0 lead in the fourth game but then was trailing 2-3, then it was 3-3.
At that stage, Omar was finally woke up, as he just played irresistible squash and completely outclassed Abouelghar, who pushed and used word shame against referee M Fayyaz of Hong Kong’s decision and was given stroke for bad conduct.
Omar was just running away with the game taking 9-4 lead and it was 10-4, when Abouelghar fought back to make it 6-10, but Omar shut the doors and took the game 11-6 to force the final into fifth and deciding game. Omar took 3-1 lead in the fifth game, then it was 3-5, 5-5, 5-8, but Omar them fought back and made it 8-8, before Abouelghar took next two points to make it 10-8.It was 9-10 before Abouelghar played a superb drop shot to win the game 11-9 in 15 minutes, thus won the title in 78 minutes of highly-tensed final.The winner was awarded cash prize of $3,610 and winning trophy, while the runner-up was awarded $2,470 and trophy.Abouelghar was awarded 440 PSA points for winning, while Omar earned 290 points. Both the semifinalists also won 175 points each. The Air Marshal Saeed M Khan, Acting Chief of Air Staff, was the chief guest on the occasion along with Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan, while Serena Hotels COO Aziz Bolani, diplomats, former world champions Jahangir Khan, Qamar Zaman, Jansher Khan, PSB DG Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, DDG Facilities Agha Amjedullah, Serena Hotels coordinator Jehanzeb Ghafoor with federation guests and school kids were also present on the final. The arena still gave deserted look as the PSF failed to fill even 200 seats. Same old story was repeated, as the federation was not in a mood to even provide drinking water to the journalists and school kids, who arrived almost two hours prior to the start of the final. After covering the final, the journalists left the complex as a protest, as the PSF treasurer used highly objectionable words and said the journalists were not invited on closing ceremony. Only VVIPs and front row persons were provided juices and other facilities while rest of the spectators and media persons were left on their own. National Press Club (NPC) president Shahryar M Khan made it clear that the federation official must not behave like this.
“We demand respect, if PSF president Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman does not take notice of the issue, we will boycott the upcoming all Squash events,” Shaharyar said. It is heartening to note that eight International Squash Players from different countries participated in 25 thousand US Dollar prize money tournament. Main round of the tournament started on 03 October, 2015 with 16 players.
A group photo senior sports journalists Asghar Ali Mubarak and M.Faheem Anwar Khan standing with The Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan as Vice Chief of The Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force at closing ceremony at the end of final match of the Serena Hotels-Chief of Air Staff International Squash Championship, 2015 played at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad. . Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan was commissioned in Pakistan Air Force in 1979 in GD (P) Branch. He is a fighter pilot and a qualified flying instructor. He is a graduate of Combat Commanders’ School, UK Staff College and National Defense University. His career has encompassed a wide range of operational, training, and command assignments. He holds Master’s Degree in Defense Studies from Kings College UK and a Master’s Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from National Defense University, Islamabad.
During his career in the PAF, Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan has commanded a fighter wing, a combat commanders’ school, an operational air base and Regional Air Command. Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan has handled various important command and staff appointments including as the Director General Air Force Strategic Command, Air Officer Commanding Northern Air Command, Director General Logistic Joint Staff Headquarters, and Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. Among his awards, Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan is also a recipient of Tamga-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military).
