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| July 18, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 10, 1426 |
Islamabad qualify for quarterfinals
LAHORE, July 17: Islamabad had to work up some sweat before taming Fata 3-2 on the opening day of the 8th All-Pakistan Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokhari badminton tournament (men’s event) to qualify for the quarterfinals at New Khan Hall on Sunday.
Fata’s Nadeem stunned Jehanzeb of Islamabad in the first singles when he drafted a convincing 15-8, 15-12 win to take an early 1-0 lead.
Ashraf and Kashif hurried to Islamabad’s rescue winning the doubles to restore parity 1-1. The pair recovered to overcome Irfan and Masood in a three-game encounter 12-15, 15-7, 15-9.
At one stage, the Islamabad was leading 9-6. Irfan and Masood braced to win the first game.
Islamabad accepted the challenge and roared back to win the next two games with relative ease 15-7, 15-9 and caught up with rivals at 1-1.
Fata clinched another success at a crucial stage when Masood came out winner against Ashraf in the second singles to salvage the lead 2-1.
It was also one of the toughest matches as Masood completed the win 15-12, 8-15, 15-8.
Matching point for point, both were 4-all and then 10-all at one stage. Masood, however, managed to romp home after losing two more points. Ashraf, with his strong forehand, hit winner after winner to win the second game.
Masood showed a fine exhibition of smashing and court crafts to complete win in the third game. The win, however, proved a last hurrah for Fata as Islamabad came back to win next two matches in a row to qualify for the next stage.
Jehanzeb and Hammad proved too good for Ali Shah and Jalil 15-7, 15-9 in the doubles to level the score again at 2-2. Kashif defeated Irfan Afridi in the reverse singles 15-4, 15-8 to seal the fate of the match.
Earlier, Punjab and PTCL clinched straight-game victories.
Punjab edged past Higher Education Commission (HEC). Former national champion Ali Yar Beg outplayed Faisal 15-10, 15-9 as Punjab took 1-0 lead.
Shahzad survived some anxious moments before toppling Bilal 17-14, 13-15, 15-5. After a gruelling first game, Shahzad lost the second allowing Bilal to take the match into the third game.
In the doubles, Naeem and Zaheer defeated Omar Rabbani and Bilal 15-13, 15-8 to complete the tally.
PTCL mauled NWFP. International Ashraf Masih was an easy winner against Bilal 15-5, 15-6, while Rizwan Azam faced little difficulty knocking down Hayatullah 15-12, 15-10.
In the doubles Arshad and Akram blasted Bilal Khan-Aneet Kapoor 15-6, 15-11.
In the ladies section, Wapda cruised into the final after beating Railways 3-0.
Aniqa beat Yasmin 11-2, 11-4 in the first singles. She, then, joining hands with Palwisha doubled the lead beating Saima and Salam 15-2, 15-7.
In the last singles, Sitara Momin defeated Salma Sharif 15-8, 11-8 as Wapda moved into the final.
Earlier, HEC qualified for the semifinals beating Punjab 2-0 in the best of three quarterfinals. Aiman defeated Kiran Kaleem 11-1, 11-9.
In the doubles, Aiman and Atiqa eliminated the challenge of Kiran and Allam 15-6, 15-7.
Results (men’s pre-quarterfinals):
Islamabad bt Fata 3-2: Nadeem (Fata) bt Jehanzeb 15-8, 15-12; Ashraf-Kashif (Islamabad) bt Irfan-Masood 12-15, 15-7, 15-9; Masood (Fata) bt Ashraf (Islamabad) 15-12, 8-15, 15-8; Jehanzeb-Hammad (Islamabad) bt Ali Shah-Jalil (Fata) 15-7, 15-9; Kashif (Islamabad) bt Irfan Afridi (Fata) 15-4, 15-8.
Punjab bt HEC 3-0: Shahzad bt Bilal 17-14, 13-15, 15-5; Naeem-Zaheer bt Umar Rabbani-Bilal 15-13, 15-8; Ali Yar Beg bt Faisal 15-10, 15-9.
PTCL bt NWFP 3-0: Rizwan Azam bt Hayatullah 15-12, 15-10; Arshad-Akram bt Bilal Khan-Amit Kapoor 15-6, 15-11; Ashraf Masih bt Bilal 15-5, 15-6.
Women’s quarterfinals: HEC bt Punjab 2-0: Aiman bt Kiran Kaleem 11-1, 11-9; Aiman-Atiqa bt Kiran-Allam 15-6, 15-7.
Semifinals: Wapda bt Railways 3-0: Aniqa bt Yasmin 11-2, 11-4; Balwisha-Aniqa bt Saima-Salma 15-2, 15-7; Sitara Momin bt Salma Sharif 15-8, 11-8.
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