May 17, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1423

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LAHORE, May 16: Asim Qureshi won the men’s singles title, while Ghazala Roohi trounced her old rival Raheela Anjum, in an all ABL women’s singles final in the 42nd National Table Tennis Championship at the Iqbal Park  Sports Complex Wednesday evening.

Asim played superbly to beat team-mate Kashif Razzaq in a one sided final to win the title for the  second time. Final score was score of 11-9, 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5 (4-1).

Ghazala claimed the title for the fifth time in a lacklustre final beating Raheela 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, 11-2.

In the men’s double Wapda deprived ABL from making a clean sweep when partners, Saleem Abbas and Ali Faisal beat Asim and Shahzad Waseem 11-8, 7-11 11-9, 7-11, 11-9. However ABL prevailed upon Habib Bank Limited (HBL) in the women’s double, when Raheela and Rizwana Saleem struggled to beat the pair of Shabnum  Balal  and  Shama Naz (HBL to win the title. The final score was 11-4, 11-7, 7-11,  10-12, 11-8.

In  the men’s singles final which lasted 40 minutes, Asim took a commendable lead winning the first three sets easily 11-9, 11-7, 11-4. However Kashif tried to make a comeback when he won the fourth set 11-5, but Asim with expert blocking, proved too good for Kashif to win the fifth set 11-5. Asim had won the coveted title in 1993 in Multan.

After beating Farjad in the quarterfinals I was confident about my victory in the final” said Asim after the final.

Ghazala had an easy win against Raheela in a final that lasted only 30 minutes. She did not give Raheela a chance winning all four sets.

In the doubles men’s event Saleem and Faisal (Wapda) fought gallantly in a closely contested final, winning the first set, but the ABL pair of Asim and Shahzad gave them a run for their money tying the score after every set to make it 2-2. Wapda’s pair surged ahead in the fifth set and clinched the sole title for Wapda.

In the women’s doubles, a similar situation was witnessed as Rizwana and Raheela (ABL) struggled to beat Shabnum and Shama (HBL) winning the first two sets. HBL restored the parity claiming the next two sets.

ABL finally prevailed winning the fifth set to claim the title,.

Both Aasim and Ghazala expressed their dissatisfaction over the hot and humid playing conditions. Ghazala also pointed out the lack of women competitors in table tennis which should be a cause of concern for the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF).

“It  was too hot and the electric bulbs were increasing it further making the condition somewhat difficult for the players. A low turn out of the spectators on the day of final is also the result of the hot weather as well as the venue which is not suitable for this game “, Aasim said.

Results:

Men’s singles final: Aasim Qureshi (ABL) bt Kashif Razzaq (ABL) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4, 5- 11, 11-5. Women’s singles final: Ghazala Roohi (ABL) bt Raheela Anjum (ABL) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, 11- 2. Men’s doubles final: Saleem Abbas-Ali Faisal (Wapda) bt Aasim Qureshi-Shahzad Waseem 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9. Women’s doubles final: Rizwana Saleem-Raheela Anjum (ABL) bt Shabnam Balal-Shama Naz (HBL) 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-8.