August 13, 2007	Monday	Rajab 28, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 12: Top seed M. Usman and second seed Ahsan Asad set a date in the boys’ singles title clash in the juniors ranking table tennis tournament inflicting defeats on their opponents in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Usman, a junior international, was home 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 against fourth seed Salman Shahid while Ahsan conceded second set on way to register 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 victory over third seed Ahmed Aslam at the Rangers Sports Complex.

Earlier, the players gone through a rigorous day playing second round, pre quarter-finals and quarter-finals as the tournament resumed after rains. The seeded players got a first round bye in a draw of 64.

Bespectacled Usman, who has been to Dubai and India with the Pakistan junior team, had a smooth run up to the final.

He handed 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 defeat to M. Ali in his first match followed by his triumph over Haq Nawaz by the identical 3-0 margin of 11-2, 11-4, 11-4.

He got the better of Mustafa Jamali 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 in the last eight.

Highly promising Maliha Khursheed and Ayesha Khan stormed in the girls singles final chalking up straight wins over their rivals.

Top seed Maliha, the reigning national juniors U-15 champion, edged unseeded Abeera Ali 11-6, 14-12, 11-8 while national U-18 champion Ayesha had a 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 short work of upcoming and third seed Palwasha.

Abeera pulled off the only upset in the event when she outpaced fourth seed Anum Saeed 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in quarter-finals earlier in the day.

The tournament concludes on Monday with two finals on card. The winners of each category receives Rs10,000 while runners-up are to get Rs5,000 apiece.

Results:

Boys’ singles:

Semi-finals: M. Usman bt Salman Shahid 11-8, 11-9, 11-8; Ahsan Asad bt Ahmed Aslam 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6.

Girls’ singles:

Semi-finals: Maliha Khursheed bt Abeera Ali 11-6, 14-12, 11-8; Ayesha Khan bt Palwasha Nafees 11-4, 11-8, 11-4.

Monday’s fixtures (finals):

Boys: M. Usman v Ahsan Asad

Girls: Maliha Khursheed v Ayesha Khan.