KARACHI, May 22: Having triumphed in the men’s team event, Wapda added another feather to their cap when they clinched the women’s team title for the third year in a row handing a convincing 3-1 defeat to National Bank in the final of National badminton championship at the National Sports Training and Coaching Centre (NSTCC) on Sunday.
Wapda shot into 1-0 lead when reigning national champion, Asma Butt made short work of Saima Manzoor 11-1, 11-3. The pair of Palwashah-Aniqa dropped the opener 11-15 before winning 15-7, 15-12 against Aisha-Saima to push the lead to 2-0.
The bankers, however, managed to restore parity through Aisha Akram who beat Wapda’s Sadia Arshad 7-11, 11-1, 13-10. Butt sisters - Asma and Uzma finally wrapped up the match beating Farzana-Sara 15-6, 15-7.
Top-seed Wajid Ali of Wapda and second-seed Ahsan Qamar of PIA cruised into the men’s singles second round.
Wajid chalked up a 15-4, 15-2 victory over Aminul Haq of Railways, while Ahsan was extended to three sets by Faizullah of Balochistan before he won 2-15, 15-2, 15-3.
In the women’s singles, second-seed Farzana Saleem of NBP, along with reigning champion Asma Butt eased into the second round.
Top-seed Aisha Akram got a bye in the first round.
Results:
Women’s team event (final):
Wapda bt National bank 3-1 Asma Butt bt Saima Manzoor 11-1, 11-3; Palwashah-Aniqa bt Aisha-Saima 11-15, 15-7, 15-12; Sadia Arshad lost to Aisha Akram 11-7, 1-11, 10-13; Asma Butt-Uzma Butt bt Farzana-Sara 15-6, 15-7.