The Top 4 seeds are moving on as projected.  Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation’ players Masud Rana and Shopon Pervez get overwhelmed...

(4) Sandeep Jangra - IND bt (5) Navin Samarasinghe - SRI   [11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-2]  (34)

Jangra and Samarasinghe played tentatively, patiently playing to the front and attacking at the most opportune moment.  This was largely because of the fast courts, brand new and having a lively bounce.  Samarasinghe seemed almost uncomfortable with the pace of the match, taking the ball to length and generally keeping the much taller Jangra behind him but failing to finish the point.  Jangra maintained a very controlled game, especially at the tee, which may have contributed to the footwork woes of Samarasinghe.  Overall, the quality of squash - while conservative - was consistent, tight and altogether entertaining.  

(3) Gaurav Nandrajog - IND bt (6) Gihan Swaris - SRI    [11-7, 11-5, 11-5]  (24)

The score line doesn't entirely describe the several intensely competed rallies Nandrajog and Swaris had.  The match was about one-upping the opponent, trading virtually identical shots back-to-back as if in a copycat drill, with the eventual winner being the one who played the shot better.  It made for a very entertaining match and sticks out as my favorite for the day.  Both players showed great retrieval, stretching great lengths to keep the rally going and impressing the crowd.  Nandrajog's movement - with his significant height advantage - only exaggerated the amount of space he could cover in one great lunge.  Swaris regularly prepared himself for the likely retrievals and aside from a few errors, kept the pressure on to the finish.  Congrats to both players for a match well played - the crowd really enjoyed it!

(2) Farhan Mehboob - PAK bt (8) Shopon Pervez - BAN    [11-4, 11-2, 11-5]  (17)

The match started with a bang as the players traded winning shots.  There were 8 points scored (4-4) just two minutes into the first game.  Nick.  Cross court nick.  Back court nick.  But Mehboob proved to be the much better player with a variety of shots and smooth court movement.  I've never seen him play before but found myself drawn to his footwork; you know good footwork when you see it (because you don't hear it!).  Pervez became discouraged at the task, unwilling to push himself further to open up the court.  In spite of my repeated efforts to see him attack the backhand of Mehboob, he played into the strengths of the shot making, left-handed Pakistani who was all to eager to put the ball away from his forehand side.  Mehboob was just too much, but I would have enjoyed watching a bit more!

(1) Aamir Atlas Khan - PAK bt (10) Masud Rana   [11-0, 11-0, 11-1]  (15)

One for the little guy...

Rana would be the smallest player even on the Junior circuit and with Khan there to make him work for every rally, he quickly found himself down and couldn't avoid the bagel.  Or two.  Rana, having already played a 5 game match, just didn't have the fitness to continue on with the exceptional Khan.  In the end, I'm happy he was able to play someone of Khan's caliber, I just wish it had been a better performance as Rana's training took a major hit after he was attacked and robbed, suffering multiple stab wounds.  He is fortunate to have survived and has been able to make a comeback to rejoin the team in training, but he would find no such mercy at the racket of Khan.  Match to Khan with great ease.