PESHAWAR: Sindh’s Naveed Rehman defeated Punjab’s Farhan Hashmi in a thrilling five-set final in the U-17 boys category of the National Junior Age Group Squash Championships at the PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex here on Saturday.

Naveed secured 11-9 win in the first set but failed to click in the second won by Farhan 8-11. Again Naveed won the set 11-9 but failed to win the fourth set won by Farhan 4-11. It was the fifth set when Naveed recorded a thumping 12-10 victory with the set being tied at 6-6, 7-7 and 10-10.

The championship featuring more than 80 boys and girls carried a prize money of Rs0.2 million. In the U-15 category, PAF’s Noor Zaman defeated Ali Sher of the PAF 3-1 in another thrilling final with the score being 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 and 11-7. Noor fully dominated the proceedings and did not give much time to his rival to strike back.

In the U-11 age group final, current Pakistan No. 1 Humam Ahmad of the PAF secured victory against PAF’s Abdullah Nawaz in straight sets with score being 11-7, 11-6, 11-9.

In the girls U-15 final, Laiba Ijaz recorded victory against Nimra Aqeel in straight sets with the score being 11-6, 11-7, 11-8. Laiba Ijaz earlier defeated Maria in the semi-final 3-0 while Nimra beat Hira 3-0.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2017