Yasir Butt clinched the FMC International Squash Pakistan Circuit–II by beating Mohammad Shahnawaz in the final here at the Punjab Squash Complex courts on Saturday. Everyone was looking Shahnawaz who recorded the biggest upset of the tournament in the semi-final when he beat top seed and world number 30 Farhan Mahboob but Yasir proved too strong a player in the final. Yasir started the title campaign in final with a shaky start but soon overcame his game’s loopholes and despite some good corner and cross courts shots from Shahnawaz, Yasir won the opening two games. Just in the first game Shahnawaz came in between some crucial points but Yasir recovered quickly.
After that powergame in the opening two games, Yasir came out with more aggression and scored three consecutive points that left Shahnawaz in tatters and was never allowed to make a come back in the game. Yasir won the final game and the match 11-9, 11-8, 11-3. Yasir took just 34 minutes to finish off the match and lifted the trophy in front of a packed audience. Malik Amjad Ali Noon, Chairman Prime Minister Inspection Commission and President Punjab Squash Association, was the chief guest at the final and distributed trophies among the winners and other participants.
MD FMC Farooq Shahid, Jansher Khan (former world champion) Advisor to President PSF, Qamar Zaman, (former world champion) Mian Fazal Haq, SVP PSA, Karamat Ullah Chaudry, tournament director and VP Technical PSA, Gogi Alauddin (former world no. 2 and Sheraz Saleem, member executive committee PSA and President Lahore District Squash Association, Khalid Saleem, President Gujranwala Zone Squash Association, Asif Khan, President Sargodha Zone Squash Association were also present at the prize distribution ceremony.
