WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: CNS International Squash Championship, Karachi, Pakistan

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 15-9, 14-15, 5-15, 15-10, 15-13 (68m)

Gaultier Gets Zaman Again In Pakistan Thriller

In a final uncannily similar to one they played four weeks earlier in northern Pakistan, France's Gregory Gaultier and Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman battled for five games in the climax of the $25,000 CNS International Squash Championship in Karachi - before the Frenchman ultimately triumphed 15-13 in the decider!

On the eve of the final, world No15 Mansoor Zaman assured Pakistan's News International that he had learned lessons from the pair's previous clash:  "In Peshawar I won the first two games only to lose the next three against him.  It was very disappointing because I knew I had nobody to blame but myself for the defeat.  I will try my best to reverse that result tomorrow," said the son of the former British Open champion Qamar Zaman.

In a real battle of nerves at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex in Karachi, Mansoor fought back from a game down to take the next two to lead 2/1.  Gaultier, just two places higher in the world rankings, drew level and moved ahead 9-4 in the decider.

The local hero, however, pulled back four points to 8-9, and minutes later - much to the delight of the packed and partisan crowd - it was 10-10, then 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13.

Zaman, however, was unable to press home any advantage as Gaultier claimed the next two points and, after 68 electrifying minutes, the match 15-9 14-15 5-15 15-10 15-13.

The victory marks the seventh PSA Tour title of 20-year-old Gaultier's short career.  Zaman now heads for England where he takes on Scotland's third seed John White in next week's opening round of the British Open on the all-glass court at the Albert Hall in Nottingham.