Iqbal Conquers Kandra in St. Louis

Iqbal v Kandra

Article courtesy of the Professional Squash Association.

Nasir Iqbal emerged triumphant in the Emerson Racquet Club Pro Series after toppling Germany’s Raphael Kandra in the final of the PSA Challenger 10 event—the first event of the 2014 US Pro Squash Series—at The Racquet Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

Top-seeded teenager Iqbal, the world No. 53 from Bannu, took the first game—but Kandra, the No. 2 seed ranked sixteen places lower, fought back to survive a lengthy second game to draw level.

Iqbal (pictured above, left, eyeing up his opponent) cut down his unforced errors in the third to regain the lead and crushed his opponent in the fourth to claim his 11-9, 14-16, 11-7, 11-2 title triumph.

“The Emerson Racquet Club Pro Series winner Nasir Iqbal kneeled down and kissed the hardwood after his victory,” reported event spokesman Tim Kelley.

The win marks the sixth PSA Tour title of the nineteen-year-old Pakistan number one’s career.

Final:
[1] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [2] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-9, 14-16, 11-7, 11-2