December 17, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 6, 1428

KARACHI, Dec 16: Having the services of seasoned players in their ranks, hosts National Bank gave a straight 3-0 drubbing to Railways in the final to claim the team event title of the All Pakistan women’s badminton championship on Saturday.

The final turned out to be a one-sided affair as the bankers maintained firm control on the match played at the Karachi Club courts.

The reigning national champion Ayesha Akram, who steered her outfit to a convincing win in the team event final, is on course for a triple crown.

She chalked up a 21-10, 21-9 victory over Sindh’s upcoming Monisha Kotia in the singles pre-final to set a date with team-mate Sara Momand who overcame Palwasha Bashir 21-16, 21-17.

Later she teamed up with Palwasha to cruise into the doubles final inflicting a 21-5, 21-15 defeat on Nuzhat/Mahiya. The pair faces Sara Momand/Sara Khan who accounted for Yasmeen/Sumaira 21-10, 21-6.

The finals will be played on Monday evening.

Results:

Team event final: National Bank bt Railways 3-0. Sara Momand bt Anila 21-5, 21-8; Ayesha Akram/Palwasha Bashir bt Yasmeen/Sumaira 21-8, 21-9; Ayesha Akram bt Yasmeen 21-3, 21-9.

Singles quarter-finals: Ayesha Akram (NBP) bt Anila (Rlys) 21-10, 21-11; Monisha Kotia (Sindh) w/o Shahnaz Shah (Wapda); Palwasha Bashir (NBP) bt Sumaira (Rlys) 21-11, 21-7; Sara Momand (NBP) bt Faryal (Pjb) 21-10, 21-6.

Semi-finals: Ayesha Akram bt Monisha Kotia 21-10, 21-9; Sara Momand bt Palwasha Bashir 21-16, 21-17.

Doubles pre-quarter-finals: Sofia/Anila bt Faryal/Sobia 21-9, 21-10; Nuzhat/Mahiya bt Afshan/Jaziba 21-7, 21-10; Varda/Suniana w/o Shahnaz/Monisha; Nazish/Sobia bt Mehwish/Zainab 21-15, 21-8; Rabia/Kauser bt Shazia/Sumaira 21-9, 21-8; Sara Momand/Sara Khan bt Mahira/Talat 21-10, 21-15.

Quarter-finals: Ayesha Akram/Palwasha Bashir bt Sofia/Anila 21-9, 21-10; Nuzhat/Mahiya bt Varda/Suniana 21-7, 21-10; Yasmeen/Sumaira bt Nazish/Sobia 21-11, 21-9; Sara Khan/Sara Momand bt Rabia/Kauser 21-3, 21-6.

Semi-finals: Ayesha Akram/Palwasha Bashir bt Nuzhat/Mahiya 21-5, 21-15; Sara Khan/Sara Momand bt Yasmeen/Sumaira 21-10, 21-6.

Monday’s fixtures:

Singles final at 6.00pm followed by doubles final.