KARACHI, Dec 28: Fancied Wapda completed a double by pocketing the men’s and women’s team event titles beating Habib Bank in both the finals of the 43rd National table tennis championship at the Islamia Club’s Majeed Khan hall on Wednesday.
While top seed Wapda whitewashed the bankers 3-0 to clinch the men’s crown, their women outfit struggled hard to overcome defending champions and top seed, Habib Bank 3-2 in a gruelling battle.
It is the first time Wapda had won both the titles in the National championship.
Hosts Sindh ‘A’ secured bronze in the men’s team event thrashing PWD 3-0 in a play-off while Punjab ‘A’ defeated Sindh ‘A’ 3-1 to grab third position in the women’s team event.
The top four seeded players were through to the women singles pre-quarterfinals after winning their matches in convincing style.
Top seed Louiza Irshad who got a bye in the first round dropped a set as she beat Shazia Tariq 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9. Second seed Shabnam Yasmeen overcome Sadia Bibi 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2.
Third seed Asia Ikram got the better of Urooj 11-7, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 while fourth seed Naureen Tehseen defeated Yumna Pervez 11-2, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3.
Results:
Men’s team event (final):
Wapda bt Habib Bank 3-0: Ali Faisal bt Yasir Bhatti 11-4, 16-14, 7-11, 12-10; Salim Abbas bt Asim Aziz 11-7, 11-8, 15-13; Bilal Yasin bt Ahmad Hussain 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5.
Women’s team event (final):
Wapda bt Habib Bank 3-2: Sanam bt Ghalia 11-7, 11-8, 11-9; Louiza bt Ayesha 11-8, 11-6, 11-4; Shabnam lost to Sadia 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11; Louiza lost to Ghalia 11-4, 7-11, 11-2, 8-11, 4-11; Sanam bt Ghalia 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.
Men’s team event (play-off 3rd position):
Sindh ‘A’ bt PWD 3-0: Atta Abbas bt Nadir 11-7, 11-9, 11-8; Hassan bt M. Khalid 11-7, 11-8, 11-5; Khawaja Kashif bt Asif 11-9, 17-15, 11-9.