ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Pakistan came back from losing two consecutive singles matches to edge past India 3-2 and clinch the team gold medal in the badminton competitions of Punjab Games at Patiala (India), according to reports available on Tuesday.
The top seed Pakistani Wajid Ali and No.2 Zeeshan Umar had both lost their singles before Tahir Ishaq/Waqas and Zeeshan Umar/Rizwan Asghar chalked up victories to bring the two teams at par.
In the deciding singles match, Ashraf Masih of Pakistan overpowered Sahali Arora of India 15-12, 15-7 to help his side land the gold. In the first match of the tie, left-handed Wajid went down rather meekly (1-15) in the first game against Mutay Anak who won 15-1, 15-10.
Sachin Ratti faced resistance before beating Zeeshan Umar 15-11, 15-9. The two singles matches already lost, Pakistan apparently looked down and out before things turned for the better for them as Tahir Ishaq/Waqas triumphed over Wajeh deep Singh and Noraeb Singh to cut the deficit to 1-2.
Zeeshan Umar and Rizwan Akbar won 15-1, 15-12 against Sachin Ratti and Rohan Kapore to bring the two teams on even keel before Ashraf registered win in the last singles match to complete Pakistan's come-from-behind success story. -APP
