Squash: Jahangir out

(First Edition)

JAHANGIR KHAN, who is attempting a comeback after a year out with a back injury, lost an 11-7 lead in the fourth game to be beaten 15-9, 15-11, 12-15, 15-11 by Rodney Martin, the former world champion from Australia, in the quarter-finals of the Leekes Classic in Cardiff yesterday, writes Richard Eaton.

Jahangir, winner of a record 10 British Opens, certainly looked better than he did while losing quickly in the Hong Kong Open two months ago. But at the age of 29 and with only four tournaments behind him in the last 18 months, yesterday's evidence was that he is unlikely to regain the whirlwind speed that once was the basis of his game.

Martin deserved to win because he took the initiative and was always dangerous on the volley and with drops. Today he meets his compatriot Chris Dittmar, who beat England's Peter Marshall, 15- 10, 9-15, 9-15, 15-10, 15-12.

Meanwhile, England's other No 1, Cassie Jackman, reached the women's semi-finals, overcoming both the Canadian Heather Wallace, in four games, and the Achilles injury that almost eliminated her three days ago.