June 19, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1424

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LAHORE, June 18: Wapda won the men’s team event title of the sixth All-Pakistan Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokri ranking badminton cup tournament, beating hosts New Khan 3-1 in the final on Tuesday.

New  Khan made a good start when Omer Zeeshan toppled Pakistan No 1 Wajid Ali in the first singles 15-3, 12-15, 15-13. Wajid,  who had lost to Zeeshan in the SAF Games trials held in Islamabad and also in another tournament in Abbotabad this year could not avenge his earlier defeats. Wajid tried to bounce back and levelled the score 1-1  by winning the second set. But after a neck and neck fight  Wajid lost the decisive third and the match, too.

Wapda staged comeback when international Tahir Ishaq  pairing with Waqas Ahmad defeated Omer zeeshan-Rizwan Rana in the first doubles 15-10, 15-8 to neutralise the tie one-all.

Zafar Tasneem maintained Wapda’s winning spree and earned 2-1 lead by beating a resolute fighter Muhammad Atiq in three sets 12-15, 15-12, 15-9.

In the second doubles which proved the decisive, Aamir Islam and Wajid Ali made short work of Nauman-Imran 15-9, 15-7 and sealed the fate of the final.

Meanwhile, more matches were decided in the men’s singles first round:

Results:

Men’s team event final:

Wapda beat New Khan 3-1:

Omar Zeeshan (New Khan) bt Wajid Ali (Wapda) 15-13, 12-15, 15-3; Tahir Ishaq-Waqas Ahmad (Wapda) bt Omar Zeeshan-Rizwan Rana 15- 10, 15-8; Zafar Tasneem (Wapda) bt Muhammad Atiq (New Khan)  12-15, 15-9, 15-12; Aamir Islam-Wajid Ali(Wapda) bt Nauman-Imran (New Khan) 15-9, 15-7.

Men’s singles (first round):

Tahir Ishaq (Wapda) bt Riaz Javed (New Khan) 15-2, 15-3; Imran Mohib (New Khan) bt Umar Rabbani (Lahore) 15-4, 15-5; Rizwan Rana (New  Khan) bt Imran Laeeq (Railways) 12-15, 15-1, 15-3;

Shabbar Hussain (New Khan) bt Naveed (Railways) 15-5, 15-3; Aamir Islam (Wapda) bt Tanvir (Karachi) 15-8, 15-11; Irfan Rana (Punjab) bt Nadeem (NWFP) 15-6, 15-7; Atif (Railways) bt Faisal (Lahore) 15-9, 15-17, 15-5; Shafique (Wapda) bt Khalid (Punjab) 9-15, 15-6, 15-8; Irfan Afridi (NWFP) bt Arshad Khan (PTCL) 2-15, 15-6,  17-14.