Magic Messi makes World Cup history

Pakistan and Egypt dominated the pre-quarter-finals of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship at the RKJK Squash Complex here on Saturday, securing all eight spots in the next round.  Four players from each nation advanced following a series of intense matches, setting up explosive all-country quarter-final clashes for Sunday. Noor Zaman swept past Brazil's Diego Gobbi 3-0 with game scores of 12-10, 11-5, and 11-9. He will face compatriot Mohammad Asim Khan, who dropped his opening game before ousting Hong Kong’s Matthew Lai 3-1 (5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5). Highly experienced Nasir Iqbal smoothly dispatched Egypt’s Yassin Shohdy in straight games 11-9, 11-5, and 11-3. Iqbal will next face former world junior champion Hamza Khan, who outlasted Switzerland's David Bernet 3-2 (11-13, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5) in a hard-fought encounter. On the Egyptian side of the draw, Mohamed Nasser overcame Japan’s Naoki Hayashi 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10) to book his spot against Salman Khalil, who defeated Malaysia’s Yee Xian Siow in straight sets 11-8, 11-6, and 11-4. The remaining Egyptian quarter-final will feature Aly Tolba and Yassin Elshafei. Tolba edged compatriot Karim El Hammamy 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 11-4, 6-11, 14-12) in a grueling 85-minute marathon, while Elshafei survived an equally tight five-set battle against fellow Egyptian Abdullah Hafez, winning 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 5-11, and 16-14. Sunday's Quarter-finals lineup: Noor Zaman vs. Mohammad Asim Khan Nasir Iqbal vs. Hamza Khan Mohamed Nasser vs. Salman Khalil Yassin Elshafei vs. Aly Tolba