KARACHI, Aug 15: Low-profile Hussain Virani of The Aga Khan Club picked up first title of his career by overcoming experienced opponent A. H. Bhatti 3-1 in the final to win Independence Day table tennis tournament at Islamia Club’s Majeed Khan indoor gymnasium on Wednesday.

Virani, who lives in turbulent Lyari, recovered from a game down to post 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9 victory over Bhatti.

As many as 64 players, mostly up and coming, featured in the contest held under the aegis of Islamia Club.

Results: First round: Arif Momin bt Usuf Memon 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5; Mehdi Raza bt Ali Shezal 11-7, 11-9, 11-9; M. Imran bt Furqan 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6; Danish Idrees bt M. Saqib Dawoodani 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 14-12; Shehreyar Nooruddin bt Zohaib 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-13, 11-5; Durab Ahmed bt Hassan Aziz 11-1, 11-5, 4-11, 3-11, 11-2; Farhan Hashim bt M. Anas Khan 11-7, 11-6, 11-5; Mehdi Azhar bt Ali Zain 13-11, 11-7, 11-7; Owais Ahmed bt Anyl Ali 11-8, 14-12, 13-11; Irtiza Awami bt Noman Hadi 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7.

Second round: Abdul Hafeez Bhatti bt Shehreyar Ahmed 11-3, 11-5, 11-7; Hussain Virani bt Obaid Hadi Khan 11-6, 11-5, 11-9; Salman Saleem bt Fazil Burney 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 11-2; Kamran Ahmed bt Ali Khan Durrani 11-7, 11-7, 12-10; Owais Ahmed bt M. Sohail 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6; Saad Riaz bt Ali Khan 11-9, 11-7, 12-10; M. Imran bt Shahyan Abbas 11-2, 11-4, 11-5; Irtiza Awami bt Mehdi Azhar 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8; Akbar Shah bt Farhan Hashim 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7; Durab Ahmed bt Akhlaq Ghauri 11-5, 11-7, 11-9; Hamza Godil bt Shehreyar Nooruddin 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9; Ali Alana bt Hadi Raza 11-8, 11-5, 11-6; Aahil Shah bt Ijaz 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8.

Third round: Salman Saleem bt Arif Momin 11-7, 11-4, 11-8; Danish Idrees bt Ali Alana 11-8, 12-10, 11-9; A H Bhatti bt Mehdi Raza 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10; Akbar Shah bt Owais Ahmed 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8; Aahil Shah bt Durrab Ahmed 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7; Hamza Godil bt M. Imran 11-2, 11-6, 11-8; Saad Riaz bt Kamran Ahmed 11-9, 11-8, 11-9; Hussain Virani bt Itiza Awami 11-8, 11-8, 11-8.

Quarter-finals: Aahil Shah bt Saad Riaz 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9; A H Bhatti bt Akbar Shah 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6; Salman Saleem bt Hamza Godil 11-9, 11-8, 11-9; Hussain Virani bt Danish Idrees 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.

Semi-finals: A H Bhatti bt Salman Saleem 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7; Hussain Virani bt Aahil Shah 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9.

Final: Hussain Virani bt A H Bhatti 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.—Sports Correspondent