October 31, 2002	Thursday	Sha’aban 24,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Wapda and New Khan Sports Board (NKSB) blanked their rivals to advance to the final of the men’s team event in the 46th National Badminton Championship being held at the Rodham Hall of Pakistan Sports Complex.

Wapda knocked out KPT 3-0 in the first semifinal while New Khan outplayed PTCL by a similar margin to set up what promises to be a thrilling final.

Wajid Ali of Wapda began the demolition defeating KPT’s Anis 15-8, 15-8 and then teamed up with Amir to down the pair of Tariq and Asadullah 15-6, 15-7. Zafar Tasneem did the rest by winning his singles match against Adil whom he edged out 15-7, 15-8 to complete what was a well-deserved victory for Wapda.

In the other pre-final, New Khan’s Waqas had to fight hard in overcoming Arshad Khan of PTCL 15-5, 10-15, 15-6 in the opening singles. Umer Zeeshan and Rizwan were the winners in the doubles contest, overpowering the team of Asghar and Akram Masih 15-7, 15-2 while it was left to Umer to put the icing on the cake with a 15-5, 15-2 rout of PTCL’s Akram Masih.

Wapda girls matched the performance of their male team-mates, walloping Army 3-0 to move into the final against Islamabad, who sprang a surprise by ousting Punjab, also by a 3-0 scoreline.

Shazia of Wapda did not face any difficulty in her match against Mehtab, whom she brushed aside 11-0, 11-1. Maira and Saima (Wapda) then outplayed Mehtab and Ayesha in the doubles 15-2, 15-1 and Farzana also had it easy beating Ayesha 11-2, 11-2.

It wasn’t easy for Islamabad though as Sarah dropped the opening game before scoring a 4-11, 11-5, 11-6 win over Punjab’s Saleema.

Sarah, partnering with Ayesha, then struggled to a 15-9, 6- 15, 15-4 victory over Aneela and Aneeqa while Ayesha finally sealed the fate of Punjab hammering Shamim Akhtar 11-4, 11-3.

The finals of the team events were being played late on Wednesday night.

A record 250 entries have been received by the organisers of the championship which has a total of 17 teams taking part.

Results:

Men’s team-event semifinals: Wapda bt KPT 3-0 (Wajid Ali bt Anis 15-8, 15-8; Wajid & Amir bt Tariq & Asadullah 15-6, 15-7; Zafar Tasneem bt Adil 15-7, 15-8); New Khan Sports Board bt PTCL 3-0 (Waqas bt Arshad 15-5, 10-15, 15-6; Umer Zeeshan & Rizwan bt Asghar & Akram Masih 15-7, 15-12; Umer Zeeshan bt Akram Masih 15- 5, 15-2).

Ladies team event semifinals: Wapda bt Army 3-0 (Shazia bt Mehtab 11-0, 11-1; Maira & Saima bt Mehtab & Ayesha 15-2, 15-1; Farzana bt Ayesha 11-2, 11-2); Islamabad bt Punjab 3-0 (Sarah bt Saleema 4-11, 11-5, 11-6; Ayesha & Sarah bt Aneela and Aneeqa 15- 9, 6-15, 15-4; Ayesha bt Shamim Akhtar 11-4, 11-3.

Men’s singles (selective results): Zulfiqar Hussain bt Nauman Ahmed 15-6, 15-8, M. Khalid bt Abdul Wadood 15-9, 6-15, 15-5, Raheel bt Irfan Masood 15-2, 15-2, Zeeshan Rana bt Adil 15-6, 15- 4, M. Amjad by Ali Shah 15-1, 15-2, Bahadur Ali bt Shamshad Hussain 15-5, 15-3, Ali Yar Baig bt Imran Laeeq 15-12, 15-1, Faizullah bt Nadeem Khan 15-4, 15-3, M. Akmal bt Bilal 15-7, 15- 8, Sabir bt Zeeshan 15-5, 15-4, Asif Beg bt Ijaz Saeed 15-4, 15- 3.

Ladies singles (selective results): Farzana Shaheen bt Nabila 11-3, 11-5, Shumaila bt Nazia 11-3, 11-3, Shazia Naureen bt Sabrina Kausar 11-3, 11-2, Zahid Ali bt Musarat 11-8, 11-1, Maira Abbasi bt Saima 11-1, 11-0, Mahajabeen bt Abida Farooq 11-2, 11- 0, Farzan bt Zahida Ali 11-1, 1-11, 13-12.