KARACHI: Hosts Pakistan earned some consolation when promising Faizan Zahoor clinched gold in cadet boys’ singles to deny formidable Sri Lanka a clean sweep as the curtain fell on the four-nation South Asian Cadet and Junior Table Tennis Championships at the multi-purpose gymnasium of Habib Public School on Sunday.

The 13-year-old Faizan, a native of Kamalia in Punjab, brushed aside Sri Lankan Harshana Karadawala 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 in the final to bring joy on the faces of his team-mates and the home crowd.

The triumph also helped young Faizan to take a sweet revenge from Harshana, who powered to 3-2 victory in the deciding rubber of the cadet team event title battle the other day.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Faizan accounted for compatriot Ummam Khowaja 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 while Harshana was home 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 over Helitha Hendawitharana.

“I’m delighted that my efforts bore fruitful results for the country,” an elated Faizan told Dawn after the victory.

Faizan, who has been given employment by the Army at a monthly emolument of Rs12,000 recently disclosed that he had previously represented Pakistan at the similar event held at Islamabad in 2014 and Cadet and Junior Open at China.

The remaining three finals of the concluding day turned out to be an all-Sri Lankan affairs as the visitors raced to add three more golds to finish with befitting figures of 9-4-1 medals.

Hosts Pakistan finished runners-up with 1-3-6 medals while Maldives had to be content with third position with 0-2-5 medals. Nepal finished at the bottom with 0-1-7 medals.

Imasha De Silva struggled to defeat Thanushi N. Rodrigo 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7 to capture cadet girls singles crown.

The junior boys singles title ended in a blaze of glory for Udaya Ranasingha who handed 8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 defeat to Krishan Wikkranarathna.

Chamathsara Fernando gave her country junior girls singles gold defeating Hansani Piumila 11-3, 15-13, 14-12, 11-7 in the final.

Manager of the visiting Sri Lankan team Mrs. Ashokamala Tennekoon expressed “satisfaction” on her team’s overall performance that topped the four-nation event.

She also praised Faizan, who did Pakistan proud by claiming gold in cadet boys category.

Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) president S. M. Sibtain and former international players and officials awarded medals to the victorious players.

Results:

Cadet boys singles:

Semi-finals: Harshana Karadawala (Sri Lanka) bt Helitha Hendawitharana (Sri Lanka) 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7; Faizan Zahoor (Pakistan) bt Ummam Khowaja (Pakistan) 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8.

Final: Faizan Zahoor (Pakistan) bt Harshana Karadawala (Sri Lanka) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7.

Cadet girls singles:

Semi-finals: Thanushi N. Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) bt Aishath Rafa (Maldives) 11-3, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7; Imasha De Silva (Sri Lanka) bt Diksha Dahal (Nepal) 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6.

Final: Imasha De Silva (Sri Lanka) bt Thanushi N. Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7.

Junior boys singles:

League matches: Krishan Wikkranathna (Sri Lanka) bt Mohammad Shaffan (Maldives) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4; Udaya Ranasingha (Sri Lanka) bt Nibraas Mohammad (Maldives) 11-7, 11-2, 11-2; Fahad Khawaja (Pakistan) bt Subodh Limbu (Nepal) 11-9, 11-1, 11-4; Syed Obaid Shah (Pakistan) bt Narayan Ghimire (Nepal) 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6; Udaya Ranasingha (Sri Lanka) bt Narayan Ghimire (Nepal) 11-9, 13-11, 12-10; Fahad Khawaja (Pakistan) bt Mohammad Shaffan (Maldives) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9; Krishan Wikkranathna (Sri Lanka) bt Suboudh Limbu (Nepal) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5; Syed Obaid Shah (Pakistan) bt Nibraas Mohammad (Maldives) 11-2, 11-7, 11-4; Udaya Ranasingha (Sri Lanka) bt Syed Obaid Shah (Pakistan) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5; Suboudh Limbu (Nepal) bt Mohammad Shaffan (Maldives) 11-7, 11-9, 15-13; Narayan Ghimire (Nepal) bt Nibraas Mohammad (Maldives) 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 11-3; Krishan Wikkranathna (Sri Lanka) bt Fahad Khawaja (Pakistan) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.

Semi-finals: Krishan Wikkranarathna (Sri Lanka) bt Syed Obaid Shah (Pakistan) 11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6; Udaya Ranasingha (Sri Lanka) bt Fahad Khawaja (Pakistan) 12-10, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5.

Final: Udaya Ranasingha (Sri Lanka) bt Krishan Wikkranarathna (Sri Lanka) 8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8.

Junior girls singles:

League matches: Hansani Piumila (Sri Lanka) bt Laisa Fathuhulla (Maldives) 11-7, 11-5, 11-5; Sonu Thapa (Nepal) bt Hareem Anwar (Pakistan) 3-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5; Chamathsara Fernando (Sri Lanka) bt Aishath Rafa (Maldives) 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9; Kainat (Pakistan) bt Sikka Suwal (Nepal) 5-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7; Hareem Anwar (Pakistan) bt Laisa Fathuhulla (Maldives) 11-8, 12-10, 11-4; Hansani Piumila (Sri Lanka) bt Sonu Thapa (Nepal) 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6; Chamathsara Fernando (Sri Lanka) bt Sikka Suwal (Nepal) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5; Aishath Rafa (Maldives) bt Kainat (Pakistan) 11-9, 11-3, 11-2; Chamathsara Fernando (Sri Lanka) bt Kainat (Pakistan) 11-6, 11-3, 11-1; Hansani Piumila (Sri Lanka) bt Hareem Anwar 11-1, 11-2, 11-2; Aishath Rafa (Maldives) bt Sikka Suwal (Nepal) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6; Sonu Thapa (Nepal) bt Laisa Fathuhulla (Maldives) 11-9, 12-10, 11-7.

Semi-finals: Chamathsara Fernando (Sri Lanka) bt Sonu Thapa (Nepal) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5; Hansani Piumila (Sri Lanka) bt Aishath Rafa (Maldives) 11-2, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

Final: Chamathsara Fernando (Sri Lanka) bt Hansani Piumila (Sri Lanka) 11-3, 15-13, 14-12, 11-7.

Final medals table

Tabulated under country, gold, silver, bronze, total:

Sri Lanka 9 4 1 14

Pakistan 1 3 6 10

Maldives 0 2 5 7

Nepal 0 1 7 8

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2016