December 16, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 15: Promising Atiq Ahmed caused a major upset outclassing experienced Zafar Tasnim in a three-game encounter to book a place in the men's singles semi-finals of the ninth Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokri badminton tournament on Friday.

Atiq exhibited fine smashing and a fast game to overcome his departmental-mate Zafar, wrapping up the match in one hour with the score 21-18, 13-21, 21-17.

Atiq had a tough time to gain 1-0 lead, as both were once tied 15-all. Though Zafar excelled with his lob shots, cut and superb reach to net, determined Atiq riddled him with his strong smashing to eventually take the first game.

Zafar steadied his game and looked a different one in the second, as he did not allow opponent to chase him after he had made a brisk start 8-3. Atiq did not try to comeback in the game once Zafar was leading 16-9, before winning for one-all.

A neck and neck fight for the supremacy was seen in the third game as Atiq caught up Zafar at 17-all. Zafar should curse himself as he played negative game at the crucial stages, hitting the shuttle out of the line, thrice and once into the net to be ousted from the competition.

Top seed Wajid Ali (Wapda) also made the last four, crushing Shabbar Hussain 21-13, 21-13 in one-side match.

Second seed Umar Zeeshan also entered the semi-final after his rival Hashar Bashir left the court due to stomach pain in the second game. Umar had won the first at 21-9 and was leading 10-4 in the second before Hashar left the court.

In women's singles, national champion Asma Butt, Farzana Ali, Sara Khan and Ayesha Akram sailed into the semi-final.

Aasma made short work of Shahnaz Shah 21-10, 21-9. Farzana faced good opposition from Saima to win 21-18, 17-20, 22-20. Sara stunned Uzma Butt wining 21-16, 21-17. Ayesha proved too good for Sara Mehmand 21-14, 21-16.

Results:

Mixed doubles' (pre quarter-finals):

Qasim Khan-Anam Bilal bt Shahnaz-Waqas Zahid 28-26, 17-21, 21-19; Ayesha-Nabeel bt Zohaib-Sumaira 21-19, 21-11; Sara-Tahir Ishaq bt Salma-Zaheer 22-20, 23-21; Farzana Ali-Atiq bt Aqsa-Jehanzeb 21-17, 21-19.

Men's doubles (pre quarter-final):

Zafar Tasnim-Umar Zeeshan bt Waqas Zahid-Hafiz Javed 21-17, 21-7; Waqas Ahmed-Hashar Bashir bt Harrison-Iftikhar 21-18, 22-20; Aamir Islam-Imran Mohib bt Zohaib-Nabeel 25-23, 18-21, 21-18; Tahir Ishaq-Rizwan Rana bt Akhtar-Zaheer 21-18, 21-18; Shabbir Hussain-Ijaz bt Nadeem Ishtiaq-Shafiq 21-18, 21-10 Wajid Ali-Ahsan Qamar bt Murad Ali-Kashif 21-14, 21-6; Asadullah-Tariq bt Naveed-Faisal 21-11, 21-13; Atiq-Rizwan Azam bt Danish-Kashif 21-15, 21-6.