LAHORE: Maria Toorpakai Wazir was amongst eight winners on the first day the inaugural SNGPL National Jashan-e-Azadi Squash Championships at the Punjab Squash Complex here on Friday.

Maria, whose sister MNA Ayesha Gulalai has been in the headlines for the last few weeks after leveling allegations over cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, won her first match representing Wapda as she cruised 11-4, 11-2, 11-1 past Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Komal Khan in just 16 minutes.

The former Pakistan No. 1 said she wanted to keep politics away from sport.

“I am not a political figure and sports should not be politicised,” Maria told reporters. “I give respect to all ex-heroes of the country in sports like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan and Imran Khan.

“I am a squash player and I have represented Pakistan all over the world. I never mind whatever people talk about me. I came to play good squash and want to win and improve my national ranking.”

The event sees 32 players in both men’s and women’s categories taking part.

Results:

Men’s singles: Ahsan Ayaz (PIA) bt Zahir Shah (KP) 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7; Amaad Fareed (SNGPL) bt Abbas Shaukat (KP) 11-9, 4-11, 5-11, 11-3, 16-14; Israr Ahmad (SNGPL) bt Ali Bukhari (Punjab) 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5.

Women’s singles: Sadia Gul (SNGPL) bt Madina Zafar (SNGPL) 12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6; Rushna Mehboob (ZTBL) bt Sibgha Arshad (Punjab) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3; Riffat Khan (Wapda) bt Anum Aziz (Sindh) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8; Tayyab Aslam (ZTBL) bt Nauman Khan (Sindh) 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2; Maria Toor (Wapda) beat Komal Khan (KP) 11-4, 11-2, 11-1.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017