18-Jul, Finals:

[1] Shahid Zaman (Pak) bt [2] Mike Corren (Aus)
        7/11, 11/4, 11/5, 13/11 (31m)
[1] Line Hansen (Den) bt [5] Wee Wern Low (Mas)
       9/6, 10/8, 9/4 (36m)

Shahid risks jail to take title

Top seed Shahid Zaman risked arrest for overstaying in Malaysia, but that did not deter him from winning a second successive title at the National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Shahid defeated Australia’s Mike Corren 3-1 in the final just hours after being told that he could be arrested by the authorities for exceeding his 18-day stay which was due to expire.

A former world No. 14 and Pakistan No. 1, Shahid was given an 18-day entry that expired on the day of the final. But Shahid said that he had worked hard to reach the final and would only fly back home after playing in it.

"I was under a lot of pressure," said Shahid. "There was a chance that they could have arrested me but I was ready to take that risk.

"Thank God I didn’t give him a walk-over!"

Shahid visited the Malaysian immigration department, just hours before the match, to get his stay in Malaysia extended. He was finally allowed to stay in the country.

The women's final - the last WISPA tour match to be played under standard scoring, with next week's Malaysian Open heralding the move to "Pro" scoring (point a rally to 11, 2 clear) - saw Denmark's top seed Line Hansen also secure a second consecutive NSC title as she beat Asian Junior Champion Wee Wern Low in straight games.
  

Feb 2008:   Sat #1   Sat #2   Super Sat #1       Mar 2008:   Star 1   Satellite #3
Jul 2008:    Super Sat #2   Sat #4                    Aug 2008:  Star 2 

11/9, 11/7, 11/7 (18m)

[7] Elvinn Keo

7/11, 11/4, 11/5, 13/11 (31m)

[2] Mike Corren

[4] Arshad Iqbal Burkhi (Pak)
11/3 rtd
[Q] Wong Wai Hang (Hkg)

4/11, 11/8, 3/11, 11/3, 11/8
(64m)

[2] Mike Corren

Qualifying:

 

9/2, 9/5, 9/2 (33m)

[3] Alana Miller

9/6, 10/8, 9/4 (36m)

[5] Wee Wern Low

9/4, 10/8, 9/3 (41m)

[6] Siti Munirah Jusoh

Qualifying:

Top seed Shahid Zaman wasted no time in his semi-final as he blitzed through three games and 56 points in just 18 minutes against Elvinn Keo to dash hopes of a home finalist.

"He didn't rally much today and he just kept going for killing shots," said event spokesman Edmund Yap. "And out of every 10, 7 or 8 were very tight or hard to retrieve, and nick shots too!"

By contrast second seed Mike Corren had to fight back from 2/1  down against fellow Aussie Steve Finitsis, finally clinching a place in the final after over an hour's play - longer than the combined duration of Shahid's three matches!.

Zaman will be aiming for a second win in a week, having beaten Corren in last week's Super Satellite #2 final, as will women's top seed Line Hansen who despatched Alana Miller in today's semi-final, the Dane's fifth consecutive straight-game victory.

Hansen faces Malaysia's top junior Wee Wern Low after the Asian junior champion won the all-Malaysian clash with Siti Munirah Jusoh, also in straight games.

The final will be the last WISPA tour match to be played under standard scoring, with next week's Malaysian Open heralding the move to "Pro" scoring (point a rally to 11, 2 clear).
  

Play the final and go to jail ?

KUALA LUMPUR: Shahid Zaman of Pakistan has qualified for the final of the Satellite Squash Tournament being played here.

However, he is in a fix as his visa expires on July 18 and he has to play the final on the same day. He may be arrested in case of overstaying in Malaysia.

In the semi-finals, top-seed  Zaman defeated Elvinn Keo of Malaysia 11-9, 11-7 and 11-7.

Shahid said that the Pakistan Squash Federation did not help him in resolving the visa issue.

He said that he would play the final despite the fear of being arrested. He is ready to go to jail.

He appealed to President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to provide help to him in this regard.

From Geo Super TV

Feb 2008:   Sat #1   Sat #2   Super Sat #1       Mar 2008:   Star 1   Satellite #3
Jul 2008:    Super Sat #2   Sat #4                    Aug 2008:  Star 2