KARACHI: With one exception, top seeds swept the other titles as the curtain fell on the eighth Rehana Nazar National Junior Squash Championship at Rashidabad’s Rehana Nazar squash complex, Tando Allahyar on Wednesday.

Following the footsteps of his elder brother Abbas, Zeeshan Zaib subdued second seed Uzair Shaukat 12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3 to keep the boys under-19 title in family. It is pertinent to mention that Abbas had captured the same title last year.

Holder Amna Fayyaz lived up to her billing routing fourth seed Noor-ul-Ain straight 11-6, 11-4, 13-11 to retain girls under-19 crown.

Anas Bukhari grew his stature by pocketing boys under-13 title inflicting straight 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 defeat on M. Hanif in the final.

The final turned out to be repeat of last year’s boys under-11 final in which Bukhari had humbled Hanif.

Unseeded Obaidullah Afzal who sent fourth seed Adnan Zaman packing in quarters and stunned second seed Saifullah Tareen in semi-final the other day, continued his giant killing performance when he removed top seed M. Zaman 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to win boys under-11 honours.

All winners were awarded Rs19,000 with runners-up getting Rs13,000 respectively from Commissioner Hyderabad Abbas Baloch and DIG Hyderabad Naeem Shaikh at the prize distribution ceremony.

Final results:

Boys under-19: Zeeshan Zaib (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) bt Uzair Shaukat (PAF) 12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3.

Boys under-13: Anas Bukhari (Punjab) bt M. Hanif (PAF) 11-4, 11-8, 11-7.

Boys under-11: Obaidullah Afzal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) bt M. Zaman (Sindh) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9.

Girls under-19: Amna Fayyaz (PIA) bt Noor-ul-Ain Ejaz (SNGPL) 11-6, 11-4, 13-11.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019