WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Chief Of the Army Staff (COAS) Squash International, Islamabad, Pakistan

Final:
[6] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 12-15, 15-12, 15-4, 12-15, 15-12 (78m)

Grant Grabs COAS Glory

England's Adrian Grant bagged the biggest title of his life when he beat local hero Shahid Zaman in the final of the $25,000 Chief Of the Army Staff (COAS) Squash International at the Roshan Khan Squash Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Grant, the sixth seed, surprisingly reached his unexpected place in the final without having to beat a higher-seeded player - whilst unseeded Zaman, from Quetta, made his impressive breakthrough when he despatched Karim Darwish, the top-seeded Egyptian who has already won three PSA Tour titles this year, in straight games in the first round.

Spurred on by the local crowd, Zaman took the opening game, but the London-born left-hander took back the advantage to move 2/1 ahead.  Zaman, the 21-year-old world No43, again got the upper hand and drew level.

In the fifth game decider, the Pakistani led 7-4 and 11-9, but 23-year-old Grant, ranked 22 places higher in the world, moved up a gear to clinch the next five points and reach match-ball.

Zaman salvaged a further point, but after 78 minutes Grant celebrated his notable 12-15 15-12 15-4 12-15 15-12 victory.

With nine PSA Tour titles now from 12 final appearances, Grant, based in Halifax in Yorkshire, can expect to make his debut in the world top 20 soon.