FIJI number one Justin Ho suffered a shock defeat during the Fiji National Squash Championship western division play-offs at the Northern Club in Lautoka yesterday.
An unfit Ho went down to rising star Marika Matanatabu 1-3 in the A grade.
Despite the loss Ho is expected to make the top four and qualify for the quarter-finals which will be held in Suva.
Earlier Ho defeated Peter Queet 3-1.
Marika remained on course to finish the round robin competition unbeaten.
The Natabua High School student defeated Nitesh Prasad 3-0 and Queet 3-1.
2009 Mini Pacific Games bronze medallist Romit Meghji also won three straight matches.
Meghji beat Siddharth Iyer 3-0, Prasad 3-1 and Queet 3-0.
Prasad defeated Iyer 3-1.
In the B grade Ratu Wiliki Takiveikata downed Mafi Tupou 3-2. Tupou beat Saish Krishna 3-0.
In the C grade John Joy recorded three wins. Joy beat Darrion Queet 3-0, Calvin Nair 3-0 and Bryan 3-0.
Geoffrey Costello beat Nair 3-0.
The competition will continue at the Northern Club today.