Pattaya (Thailand): It did not prove second time lucky for India as Pakistan carved out a 2-0 victory to win the boys’ title in the Asian junior team squash championship here on Sunday. It was by a 2-1 margin that Pakistan had beaten India in a Pool league match earlier.
As has been the pattern for India in this championship this time, the focus fell once again on Veer Chotrani who was to start the proceedings for India. The Indian did his best showed his fighting qualities to stretch the match but at the finish line, Hashmi edged him out to put Pakistan one up. Expectations of Utkarsh Baheti taking a leaf from Veer dimmed from the way Abbas Zeb seized early control of the exchanges. Leaving no chance for Utkarsh to manoeuvre, Zeb reeled away three straight games to bring Pakistan the victory.
The result: final: Boys: Pakistan beat India 2-0 (Abbas Zeb bt Utkarsh Baheti 11-4, 11-2, 11-6; Muhammad Farhan Hashmi bt Veer Chotrani 2-11, 11-9, 11-7, 5-11,11-9; Harish Qasim-Yash Fadte (withdrawn).
