Ashab and Tayyab to Clash in Quarterfinals

Pakistani squash athletes Ashab Irfan and Tayyab Aslam have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Aftab Jawaid Memorial Squash Championship in Houston, following their respective second-round victories. Ahsan Ayaz, also from Pakistan, was eliminated after a defeat.

Ashab Irfan’s Victory

Second-seeded Ashab Irfan demonstrated his prowess by defeating Egypt’s Seif El-Shenawy with a score of 3-1 (11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4) in 47 minutes. Irfan dominated the initial two games, while El-Shenawy managed to win the third. Irfan quickly regained control, decisively winning the fourth game to secure his spot in the quarterfinals.

Tayyab Aslam’s Comeback

Tayyab Aslam achieved a notable comeback against Japan’s sixth-seeded Tomo Endo in a five-game match. After losing the first game 3-11, Aslam recovered to win the second 13-11. Despite a close loss in the third game (10-12), the Pakistani competitor showed resilience, winning the subsequent two games (11-6, 11-9) for a 3-2 victory after 73 minutes.

Upcoming Quarterfinal Match

With these wins, Ashab Irfan and Tayyab Aslam are scheduled to compete against each other in the quarterfinal of the $15,000 championship, guaranteeing that at least one Pakistani player will proceed to the semifinals.

Ahsan Ayaz’s Defeat

Ahsan Ayaz of Pakistan faced a setback, losing to Egypt’s third-seeded Moustafa Elsirty in straight games (11-9, 11-9, 11-2). Despite a strong effort in the initial two games, Ayaz was unable to maintain his momentum against his opponent.