Danish grabs third successive tour title in Iran

Danish Atlas Khan (left) has had a dream run in Iran. -Photo by AFP 

Pakistan’s teenage squash hope Danish Atlas Khan recored his third successive PSA World Tour title triumph in Iran in a month when he won the Norooz Squash International, the PSA Challenger 5 event in its third year at Enghelab Sports Complex in Tehran. hird seed Khan made his breakthrough in the semi-finals where he beat top-seeded Egyptian Mazen Gamal, the champion in 2009. The 17-year-old from Peshawar, the younger brother of Pakistan’s top player Aamir, then faced title-holder Bader Al Hussaini in the final after the fourth seed from Kuwait had overcome second seed Waqar Mehboob, from Pakistan, in the other semi-final.But Danish Atlas Khan was too strong for the defending champion in the final, dispatching the 27-year-old 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 in just 35 minutes.“I really want to thank Allah for winning three tournaments here – also thanks to my father and my coach Atlas Khan, and my family, who really support me,” said the jubilant champion after his victory.

Danish’s road to Norooz glory:

1st round:

[1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 (65m)

[Q] Aurangzeb Mehmund (PAK) bt Mohammad Hossei Jafari Nadoushan (IRI) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (26m)

Mohammad Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) bt Navid Maleksabet (IRI) 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3 (27m)

[3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Seyed Mohammad Hossein Sanaee (IRI) 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 (28m)

[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Masoud Gharehzyaldini (IRI) 11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (29m)

Alireza Sanaei (IRI) bt [Q] Sameollah Ghasedabadi (IRI) 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 (30m)

[Q] Mohammed Yaquop Hajeyah (KUW) bt Zeyad Tareq Alowaesh (KUW) 11-4, 11-3, 4-11, 11-4 (33m)

[2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (24m)

Quarter-finals:

[1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Aurangzeb Mehmund (PAK) 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5 (41m)

[3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Mohammad Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) 7-11, 11-2, 11-0, 11-3 (27m)

[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Alireza Sanaei (IRI) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (18m)

[2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt [Q] Mohammed Yaquop Hajeyah (KUW) 11-7, 17-15, 11-3 (39m)

Semi-finals:

[3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (46m)

[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [2] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) 1-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)

Final:

[3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (35m) -(SOURCE SQUASH INFO)