LAHORE: Murad Ali and Mahoor Shahzad won the men and women’s singles titles, respectively in the 57th National Badminton Championships that ended here at the Wapda Sports Complex on Friday.

NBP’s Murad was declared winner of the final after his rival Hafiz Irfan Saeed of Wapda conceded the match as his left knee was dislocated in the very first game. Irfan was leading the game 6-3 when in a struggle to return the shuttle his knee suffered injury, forcing him to leave the final.

Last year, Irfan faced the same problem when his right knee was dislocated during the decider.

Meanwhile, Mahoor of Wapda toppled her team-mate Ghazala Siddique 21-19, 21-13 in the women’s final.

Mahoor faced tough resistance in the first game. However, she easily claimed the second game and with it the match in just 25 minutes.

Awais Zahid and Mohammad Ali Larosh of Wapda clinched the men’s doubles title defeating Rizwan Azam (NBP) and Noman Sabir (SNGPL) 27-25, 14-21, 25-23 in the final lasting 45 minutes.

Cash prizes worth Rs200,000 were distributed among the winners and the runners-up of men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles’ finals.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2020