KARACHI, June 14: Pakistan’s top woman squash player Bushra Haider, retained her trophy when she brushed aside second seed Alia Sarfaraz in three straight sets 10-8, 9-3, 9-4 at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan/Jahangir Khan squash complex on Saturday.

It took the 23-year-old from Sindh only 31 minutes to win this prestigious trophy for the fourth successive time.

This was a far cry from Friday’s semifinal engagements when Bushra came from behind to beat Punjab’s Muqaddas Ashraf in five gruelling games which lasted 54 minutes and Alia got the better of Saima Shaukat also from Punjab also in five games which lasted 42 minutes.

Alia, a teenager from Punjab, put up stubborn fight in the first game which she lost 10-8, after being comfortably placed 8-4 at one stage of the game. But the intense heat in the hall may have taken its toil, as she faded away in the next two games.

Alia opened her account in the opener when Bushra sent a backhand smash into the tin. But recovering splendidly the top seed ran up a 3-1 lead.

Fighting her way back into contention, Alia levelled the scores 4-4, but Bushra with two superb backhand drop shots forged ahead 6-4.

Suddenly it was Alia all the way. Forcing her opponent into numerous errors, Alia seemed to be running away with the first game 8-4 in front. But it was not to be. Bushra stemmed the tide and after a few more exchanges pinched the first game 10-8 in only 11 minutes.

Racing ahead 2-0 in the second game, Bushra saw her determined opponent not only catch up at 2-2, but also take over the lead 3-2. But a flurry of match winners saw Alia stranded on the wrong foot time and again as she went down 9-3, this time in 12 minutes.

Aware that she was sinking fast, Alia tried to put in a last ditch effort but it was all in vain. Bushra sealed the game and the match in her favour with a forehand drop shot just inches away from the tin.

The final game which Bushra won 9-4, lasted only eight minutes.

Both girls earned a great round of applause from the packed audience, who also braved the intense heat to watch the women’s squash final for the Protect Cup.

Pakistan’s legendary squash wizard Jahangir Khan, President World Squash Federation presented the trophies to the winner and runner-up.

Bushra also received the winners cheque for Rs.6000, while Alia had to be content with the runner-up prize money of Rs.4200.

The two semifinalists Saima and Muqaddas each received Rs.2700. The four quarterfinal losers Maliha Shahid (Punjab), Misbah Rani (Punjab), Saima (Punjab) and Sumera Haq (Sindh), each received Rs.1650 each. Also receiving cash prizes of Rs.975 each, were Samina Ghafoor (Sindh), Saadia Riaz (Sindh), Zainab Jamal (Sindh), Saima Sadiq (Sindh), Humeria Warsi (Sindh), Sadaf Haq (Sindh), Sidra Sadiq (Sindh) and Zeba Pervaiz (Punjab).