KARACHI: Talented Tayyab Aslam and Faiza Zafar on Saturday became new men’s and women’s champions of the US $20,000 11th DG Rangers Open Squash Championship which concluded at the Rangers Jahangir Khan squash complex.

Third seed Tayyab took 63-minutes to turn the tables on fourth seeded Israr by 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 to claim men’s crown.

Sixth seed Faiza, on the other hand, created quite a stir when she got the better of top seed Sadia Gul in a pulsating final to win 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8 in 42-minutes.

DG Rangers Sindh, Maj Gen Mohammad Saeed, who graced the finals, gave away the prizes. A beaming Tayyab received the winning purse of US $2550 while Israr got US $1560 for being the runner-up.

Faiza fetched US $850 while Sadia took home US $520.

Also present on the occasion among others were squash legend Jahangir Khan, Sector Commander Sachal Rangers Brig Naseem Pervez and the secretary Sindh Squash Association Rashid Ahmad.

Speaking on the occasion, DG Rangers promised to take the event to a higher level in the next year. He said the 11th DG Rangers Open Squash Championship is a testimony of Rangers’ contribution in promoting healthy sporting activities in the city.

Squash legend Jahangir khan applauded the interest and support of DG Rangers in sports activities and hoped this will go a long way in scouting fresh talent.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Tayyab coasted to a 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 victory over Ammad Fareed in 54-minutes while Israr came from the jaws of defeat to whip stubborn Asim Khan in 68-minutes which turned out to be the longest encounter of the tournament.

In the women’s semi-finals, top seed Sadia sent Zoya Khalid packing straight 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in just 19-minutes while sixth seed Faiza stunned third seeded sibling Madina 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2 in 22-minutes.

Results:

Final men’s: Tayyab Aslam (ZTBL) bt Israr Ahmed (SNGPL) 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6.

Final women’s: Faiza Zafar (NUST) bt Sadia Gul (SNGPL) 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8.

Semi-finals (men):

Tayyab Aslam (ZTBL) bt Amaad Fareed (SNGPL) 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6; Israr Ahmed (SNGPL) bt M. Asim Khan (SNGPL) 7-11, 8-11,12-10, 11-8,11-7.

Semi-finals (women):Sadia Gul (SNGPL) bt Zoya Khalid (Army) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7; Faiza Zafar (NUST) bt Madina Zafar (SNGPL) 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2017