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LAHORE, Jan 25: Defending champions Wapda annexed the women team’s event title in the 49th National badminton championship beating NBP 3-1 in the final on Wednesday. The bankers started the final on a winning note as Sara Khan won the first singles against Farzana Ali 11-9, 11-6.
Wapda levelled the score one-all when the Butt sisters, Asma and Uzma got a walkover as Afshan and Irum did not turn up.
The winners surged ahead 2-1 when Asma chalked out a 12-10, 11-4 win against Ayesha Akram.
In the second doubles, Saima and Palvasha proved too good for Ayesha and Sara Khan winning 15-11, 15-8.
Reigning champions Wapda and NBP also qualified for the men’s team event final.
Wapda bulldozed New Khan 3-0 in the first semifinals. Pakistan No.1 Wajid Ali made a perfect start for Wapda beating Rizwan Aazam 15-11, 15-5.
Tahir Ishaq and Waqas Ahmed went to full distance to beat Rizwan and Nauman 15-11, 9-15, 15-12 in the first doubles as Wapda forged ahead 2-0.
Omar Zeeshan stamped Wapda’s victory when he outclassed Ashraf 15-1, 15-4.
In the other pre-final, NBP got the better of Punjab 3-1.
Results:
Women’s semifinals:
Wapda beat Sindh 3-0. Farzana Ali bt Mahrukh 11-0, 11-1; Asma Butt-Uzma Butt bt Mahrukh-Aiman Khan 15-5-15-2; Asma Butt bt Aiman 11-1, 13-10.
NBP beat Railways 3-0. Ayesha Akram bt Razia 11-1, 11-2; Ayesha-Sara bt Razia-Salma 15-2, 15-3; Sara bt Uzma 11-4, 11-2.
Final:
Wapda beat NBP 3-1. Sara Khan bt Farzana Ali 11-9, 11-6; Asma Butt-Uzma Butt w/o Afshan-Irum; Asma Butt bt Ayesha Akram 12-10, 11-4; Saima-Palusha bt Ayesha-Sara Khan 15-11, 15-8.
Men team event semifinals:
NBP beat Punjab 3-1. Hashar Hasheer bt Ahmed 15-2, 15-13; Atif-Ijaz bt Irfan-Shahzad 15-10, 9-15, 15-3; Ali Yar Beg bt Atif 15-11, 5-15, 15-4; Hashar-Kashif bt Ali Yar Beg-Ali Hafeez 14-17, 15-12, 15-5.
Wapda beat New Khan 3-0. Wajid Ali bt Rizwan Azam 15-11, 15-5; Tahir Ishaq-Waqas Ahmed bt Rizwan-Nauman 15-11, 9-15, 15-12; Omar Zeeshan bt Ashraf 15-1, 15-4.
