Aamir Khan is already looking forward to coming back and defending his crown next year after becoming Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Tournament’s first squash champion.
The 22-year-old Pakistan expatriate, born and brought up in the UAE, was in cruise mode on Monday night as he defeated compatriot, and a familiar opponent, Mubarak Mohsin in straight games 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
“I was mentally prepared for this match and I was looking forward for a clean sweep,” said Khan, a former world junior No4 who is now ranked No246 in the world.
“It is a really big tournament and I am really glad to win this for the first time. It is a really big achievement and I am looking forward to coming back and defending my crown. I hope they will have squash next year as well,” he added.
Determined to seal it in three games, Khan was off the blocks and up 5-0 before Mohsin could win his first point.
Khan eventually took the game 11-5.
The second game was a closer tussle, with Khan and Mohsin level at 6-6, before the champion raced ahead to win 11-7.
The third game followed the pattern of the first as Khan sped to a 5-0 lead before pulling up with a slight twinge in his thigh.
As he returned to the court after a medical timeout, Mohsin started hunting him down, erasing the early deficit and then going toe-to-toe until 7-7.
But he made a few errors towards the end, which helped Khan seal the title with a 11-8 win.
“It was pretty close last time [against Mohsin], but this time I was much better prepared,” Khan said, adding that his thigh problem was nothing serious. “I am having this problem since last month. It’s not that bad, but it’s just there.”
On the volleyball court, Zabeel and Expo2020 have made their way into the last four with straightgame wins.
Zabeel knocked out My Dubai, while Expo2020 cruised past Saqoor Al Asifa.
The NAS Ramadan Tournament, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and president of the Dubai Sports Council, features more than 3,000 participants in six different sports.
The three-week events boasts prize money in excess of Dh7m.