LAHORE, Pakistan, 16 December 2003 — World No. 2 John White of Scotland remained on course to erase last year’s disappointment with a comfortable first-round win on the second day of the World Open squash tournament here yesterday.
The 30-year-old White, who lost to Australian David Palmer in last year’s Open final at Antwerp, Belgium, disposed of Frenchman Jean-Michel Arcucci 15-11, 15-12, 15-13 in 49 minutes.
The 25th edition of the World Open commenced here Sunday with $170,000 in prize money for the eight-day competition.
Number four seed Thierry Lincou faced no opposition from local boy Shahid Zaman and cruised into the second round with a clinical 15-9, 15-4, 15-8 finish.
Two other Pakistani players, Farrukh Zaman and Shamsul Islam, also crashed out in the first round.
India’s Ritwik Bhattacharya, who became the first player from his country to feature in the main rounds of the World Open, went down to England’s Lee Beachill in four games. Beachill, seeded eight here after his Qatar Classics win earlier this month, won 15-7, 10-15, 15-13, 15-10.
Asia’s top player Ong Bang Hee of Malaysia, the number-six seed, had a comfortable win over Dutchman Laurens Anjema 15-9, 15-7, 15-4.
