Abu Dhabi Open title number 10 for UAE squash star Adil Maqbool

UAE's leading squash star Adil Maqbool celebrated becoming a father for the second time by winning the Abu Dhabi Open tournament for an unprecedented tenth time.

"I never dreamed that I would win 10 titles. It's a pretty big achievement considering the fact that I don't come from a squash playing family," said the 27 year-old of Pakistan origin.

Adil beat UAE's number three player 18 year-old Sandeep Ramachandran in straight games in the semifinal before easing past his arch rival Aamer Malik in the final

"I won the first two games comfortably in the final sticking to my game plan. I relaxed a little too much in the third making eight errors and losing the game 11-8. Saved a game ball in the fourth and took the match after pushing it to a tie break 13-11," said Adil.

Unbeaten in the UAE since 2004 and ranked number one for the past 13 years, Adil has won UAE's longest running tournament 10 out of 11 times losing only once to Ben Rickby of England in the 2004 final.

Abu Dhabi-born Adil missed the tournament last year.

"There was lot of pressure for me in this tournament. Ten is a pretty big number and I'm 27. I've been playing so long, I don't know how many years I have left in me. I wanted to make it count. I've just become a father for the second time a month ago. i have to balance work and training. With two kids it's different now," said Adil expressing his gratitude to his family especially his father and coach Maqbool Khawaja.

"I am very satisfied with the performance of my players on the Murooj Rotana team. Three of them finished in the top four of the PSA National Championship with Adil winning it for the tenth time," said Khawaja who also trains Ramachandran and Oman's number one Jamal Al Barwani.

Ranked 111 after entering the quarter-finals in PSA tournaments held in Pakistan and Egypt, Adil is hopeful of breaking into the top 100 again when he takes part in the Sharm El Sheikh Open this month.

sharm el sheikh open 14th seed playing against eight seed

"It's a pretty tough tournament and I have got a qualifier in first round. If I win I will break into the top 100," said Adil who is ranked 14th in the Egypt tournament. I also hope to take part in the Kent Open in June and I might be travelling to Australia in July, August," added Adil whose career-best rank is 66.


 

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