PESHAWAR - Ranked 19th in the world, Aamir Atlas of Pakistan is aiming to beat world number one Rami Ashour of Egypt in the North American Open Squash Championship, the second PSA Super Series event of the year, at Richmond University Campus, Virginia. The event starts on February 21 and runs until February 27. Aamir departed for Virginia from Islamabad on Friday. After clinching double gold medals in the South Asian Games, Aamir vowed to maintain the winning streak, www.dawn.com reported on Friday. “Top of the line players will take part in the championship and I have trained hard to improve my game,” said Aamir. Aamir will face a qualifier in the first round and is anticipating taking on the defending champion and favourite Ashour in the second round of the event, which offers a prize purse of $93,750. “I am every excited about this particular match. I recently beat former world number one Gregory Gaultier and I'm looking forward to repeat the performance in Virginia,” said Atlas. “I will not be preoccupied with the fact that my second round opponent is the world's top player and I will be putting up my best to beat him and claim the title,” Aamir told newsmen before leaving for Islamabad. Aamir said he enjoyed playing in the recently concluded South Asian Games in Dhaka where he clinched gold medal in the individual event and also led his side to the gold in the team event. “It was a nice experience in Dhaka and winning double gold medals for my country gave me a very good feeling,” he said.
