LAHORE, April 11: Bilal Zaman won the under-19 title of the national junior squash championship defeating Farzan Rasheed in straight games 9-2, 9-3, 9-5 on Monday at PSA complex. Bilal was in prime form and spent just 33 minutes in making short work of his opponent who attempted to give tough time in the third set before going down under pressure exerted by his rival.

He displayed mid court play with lovely drop shots and accurate placing above the tin and showed vast reach by returning difficult balls from the back parts of the court.

The under-19 title was claimed by Sohaib Hasan who ousted Alamzeb in the longest battle of the day in 79 minutes with a scoreline of 9-6, 7-9, 6-9, 9-5, 9-5 in a match which went to the full five games.

Sohaib bounced back and repaired the damage of losing the second and third games winning the fourth and fifth games.

Waqar Mahboob claimed the under-15 title giving squash lesson to Asif Khan in just 20 minutes in a one-sided affair. The score was 9-3, 9-2, 9-0.

Danish Atlas captured the under-13 crown beating Awais Rehman in the shortest final which lasted just 18 minutes. The score was 9-1, 9-2, 9-4.

In the girls, Sara Awan crowned herself with the under-19 title defeating Zaiba Pervez 9-1, 9-2, 9-6 in 27 minutes.

Anna Batool won the under-15 championship overcoming Aniqa Awan 10-8, 9-7, 3-9, 9-4 in 34 minutes final.

Rifat Khan outstroked Samar Anjum 9-6, 9-3, 7-9, 9-0 in 20 minutes for the under-13 prize.

Speaking on the occasion, president, PSA, General Zarrar Azim said it was a heartening to see talent coming up and high class of squash was witnessed during the championship.

“I am confident that day is not far away when we will regain lost glory in squash by producing world champions and the champions will be coming from the young players on whom we are paying special attention under a long term plan”, he asserted.

Zarrar said PSA was striving hard for the development of the game and it was the result of sheer hard work and efforts at early level that majority of the players appeared in the championship were the product of PSA.

“We have chalked out a comprehensive plan for the uplift of the game and we will continue our efforts by launching more development programmes throughout the province to tap talent and to train it on modern lines”, he said.

Later the president, PSA gave away the trophies and prizes to the winners.—APP