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| July 25, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
Wajid keeps title, Asma lifts crown
LAHORE, July 24: Top seed Wajid Ali and Asma Butt claimed their men’s and women’s titles, respectively in the 8th Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokri badminton tournament at New Khan Hall on Sunday.
Wajid, with his powerful smashing and excellent net shots, bagged his second crown in a row after eliminating a stiff challenge from national champion Omer Zeeshan 15-12, 17-15 in an all-Wapda final that lasted an hour.
Omer though put up a spirited fight but he failed to extend the final to full length.
Wajid remained in front throughout the first game but Omar did not allow him to gain a big lead. At one stage he managed to catch up with Wajid at 12-all but again failed to overtake him.
Wajid, with his vast experience, earned three winners in a row to take a 1-0 lead and stepped up attacks to grab a 9-2 lead in the second game.
Omer, who seemed as though he had run out his stamina, bounced back to equalise 12-12 taking advantage of Wajid’s unforced errors.
He was on the verge of stretching the final into the third game with a 14-12 lead, but Wajid had other plans.
He braced the game with a fine show of cross smashing to catch up with Omer and rushed to score three more winners to seal the fate of the match.
Wajid added another feather to his cap when he paired with Sara Momin and won the mixed doubles final beating Waqas Ahmed-Saima 15-12, 15-13.
Asma Butt (Wapda) overcame stiff challenge from Farzana Saleem (NBP) to win the women’s singles final 11-9, 5-11, 11-8 in one and a half hour battle.
Asma lifted another title when, pairing with her sister Uzma Butt, she struggled to win the women’s doubles final against a strong pair of Ayesha Akram-Saima Manzoor 15-9, 11-15, 15-13.
After one-all, the third game saw a neck-and-neck fight for supremacy.
Ayesha-Saima fought till 10-all and then 12-all before Asma-Uzma dominated in the final stages to win the final.
Ali Yar Beg and Nauman won the men’s doubles title beating Aamir Islam and Imran Mohib 15-13, 15-3.
A total of Rs120,000 prizes were distributed among top position holders.
Results (finals):
Men’s singles: Wajid Ali (Wapda) bt Omer Zeeshan (Wapda) 15-12, 17-15.
Women’s singles: Asma Butt (Wapda) bt Farzana Saleem (NBP) 11-9, 5-11, 11-8.
Men’s doubles: Ali Yar Beg-Nauman bt Aamir Islam-Imran Mohib 15-13, 15-3.
Women’s doubles: Asma Butt-Uzma Butt bt Ayesha Akram-Saima Manzoor 15-9, 11-15, 15-13.
Mixed doubles: Wajid Ali-Sara Momin bt Waqas Ahmed-Saima 15-12, 15-13.
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