KARACHI, Feb 21 Palwashah Bashir and Rizwan Azam of National Bank stood tall by annexing triple crowns as Wajid Ali of Wapda retained his men`s singles title in the 52nd National badminton championship which concluded at the PSB Coaching Centre on Saturday.

Palwashah landed her maiden national women`s singles title when she gets past bank mate Sara Mohmand 21-19, 20-17 (retired) after the latter pulled muscle of her left leg at the match point of second set. The two have made it to the final of the country`s premier championship of the game for the first time.

She teamed up with former national champion Ayesha Akram to inflict 21-18, 21-13 defeat on Wapda`s pair of Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana for the women`s doubles title.

Earlier, she helped NBP retain the women`s team event title beating Wapda 3-0.

National doubles champion pair of Rizwan Azam and Chaudhary Atique retained their title when they accounted for Wajid Ali and Ahsan Qamar 21-16, 16-21, 21-11. Rizwan added mixed doubles title to his tally when pairing with Sara Mohmand the duo stunned holders Chaudhary Atique and Palwashah Bashir 21-18, 21-13. Besides Rizwan was part of the victorious NBP team which dethroned Wapda 3-2.

But it was Wajid who maintained his ascendancy in the men`s singles imposing a convincing 21-16, 21-12 victory over top seed Ahsan Qamar to claim his seventh national title in eight appearances.

Results

Men`s singles final

Wajid Ali (Wapda) bt Ahsan Qamar (PIA) 21-16, 21-12.

Women`s singles final

Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Sara Mohmand (NBP) 21-19, 20-17 (retired).

Men`s doubles final

Rizwan Azam (NBP) and Chaudhary Atique (Wapda) bt Wajid Ali (Wapda) and Ahsan Qamar (PIA) 21-16, 16-21, 21-11.

Women`s doubles final

Ayesha Akram and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana (Wapda) 21-18, 21-13.

Mixed doubles final

Sara Mohmand and Rizwan Azam (NBP) bt Chaudhary Atique (Wapda) and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) 21-18, 21-18.

Veteran`s singles final

Amir Islam (Wapda) bt Tahir Javed (Wapda) 21-11, 21-6.

Women`s doubles semi-finals

Ayesha Akram and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Asma Butt and Uzma Butt (Wapda) 21-13, 21-11; Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana (Wapda) bt Afshan Shakil (NBP) and Farzana Ali (Wapda) 21-11, 21-18. —

Sports Correspondent