LAHORE, June 21: Second seed Omar Zeeshan, Waqas Ahmad and Ahsan Qamar were taken to the distance before booking their places in the semifinals of the sixth All Pakistan Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokhari ranking badminton cup at the New Khan courts on Saturday.
Omar faced a resolute fight from international Aamir Islam before registering 15-7, 7-15, 15-6 win in 50 minutes.
Ahsan completed victory after one hour battle against Muhammad Atiq with the score of 15-5, 12-15, 15-8.
Waqas recovered to topple the former national champion Ali Yar Baig in another three setters 5-15, 15-4, 17-16.
National champion Wajid Ali, however faced no difficulty in outclassing Zafar Tasnim in the quarterfinals which failed to go to the distance.
The score in Wajid’s favour was 15-4, 15-6. Wajid played like a true champion and did not give any room to seasoned Zafar to create any problem in his way.
The ladies’ singles event entered the final stage. National champion Asma Butt and Ayesha Akram set the date for the final clash.
Asma overwhelmed Saadia 11-4, 11-3 while Ayesha showed no mercy Uzma Butt in earning 11-3, 11-7 win in the second semifinals.
In the ladies’ double event, Ayesha-Saima and Aasma Butt-Uzma Butt qualified for the final.
Ayesha-Saima defeated Aneela-Shazia in the first semifinal 15-10, 15-11. Asma-Uzma proved too good for Farzana-Shahnaz (Wapda) 15-3, 15-0.
The men’s doubles contest also entered the semifinal stage.
Results:
Men’s singles (quarterfinals):
Wajid Ali bt Zafar Tasnim 15-4, 15-6; Ahsan Qamar bt Muhammad Atiq 15-5, 12-15, 15-8; Waqas Ahmad bt Ali Yar Baig 5-15, 15-4, 17-16; Omar Zeeshan bt Aamir Islam 15-7, 7-15, 15-6.
Women’s singles semifinals:
Aasma Butt bt Saadia 11-4, 11-3; Ayesha Akram bt Uzma Butt 11-3, 11-7.
Men’s doubles (quarterfinals):
Omar Zeeshan-Rizwan bt Shafiq-Atiq 15-7, 15-9; Wajid-Aamir Islam bt Imran-Nauman 15-10, 15-12; Tariq-Zafar bt Tahir-Shakir 10-15, 15-12, 15-12; Ali Yar Baig-Waqas bt Intikhab-Ijaz 15- 10, 15-12.
Women’s doubles (semifinals):
Ayesha-Saima bt Aneela-Shazia 15-10, 15-11; Aasma Butt-Uzma Butt bt Farzana-Shahnaz 15-3, 15-0.