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| June 14, 2003 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1424 |
Bushra, Alia survive to meet in final
KARACHI, June 13: National champion and top seed Bushra Haider survived a determined challenge from unseeded Muqaddas Ashraf to squeeze into the final of the national women squash championship played at Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan/Jahangir Khan Squash Complex on Friday.
Bushra will face Alia Sarfaraz in the final after the latter too was taken to five games by Saima Shaukat.
Unseeded Muqaddas who scored an upset victory in the quarterfinal gave tough time to Bushra and the favourite had to bring out her best to overcome her spirited rival.
Muqaddas from the beginning played aggressively in the first game and surprized everyone by taking the first game 9-6. Stunned by the shock first game reverse Bushra fought back to level the match clinching the second game 9-7.
Promising Muqaddas with the help of her longer reach had an edge over her rival bounced back in the third game winning easily 9-4 points to once again lead 2-1.
Bushra for the second time in the match rallied magnificently to make it 2-2 winning 9-2 to ensure the match go to the distance
Both the players appeared tired after but the experience of Bushra turned the tide in her favour winning the all-important fifth game 9-3 with Muqaddas failing to sustain her form.
Second seed Alia Sarfaraz too was fully streched to the limited by fourth seed Saima Shaukat in another gruelling five-game semifinal. The score being 10-9,4-9,9-2,7-9,9-2.
Like the first semifinal it was also a very close fought encounter Alia like Bushra managed to came back strongly in the final fifth game to book herself place in the final.
A gruelling battle ensued in the first game finally won by Alia 10-9. Saima not to be denied neutralized the loss and made it all square by taking the second set 4-9.
Alia for the second time took the lead as she won the the third set 9-2 only to see her opponent came back roaring to level the match 2-2 winning the fourth game 9-7.
The fourth game appeared to take the winds out of Saima as Alia showed her class taking the game and the match 9-2.
Semifinal results: Bushra Haider bt Muqaddas Ashraf 6-9, 7-9, 4-9, 9-2, 9-3; Alia Sarfaraz bt Saima Shaukat 10-9, 4-9, 9-2, 7-9, 9-2
Today’s final: Bushra Haider v Alia Sarfaraz 3.30 p.m.
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