GOLD COAST: Pakistan’s badminton team suffered their second successive defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games here on Friday as the country’s athletes failed to impress in most other disciplines.
Earlier thrashed by Scotland 5-0, Pakistan’s badminton outfit once again proved themselves pushovers as they were outclassed by Sri Lanka 4-1.
In the mixed doubles, the Sri Lankan pair of Bunwaneka Goodnethilleka and Kavidi Sirinanage dominated the proceedings as they defeated Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan and Palwasha 21-16, 21-4. Dinuka Karunaratna of Sri Lanka overpowered Pakistan’s Murad Ali 21-18, 21-17 in a 34-minute men’s singles clash.
In the men’s doubles, Buwaneka Goonethlleka and Sachin Dias comfortably beat the Murad-Irfan duo 21-11, 21-14 in 29 minutes.
It was Mahoor who was able to prevent a sweep by Sri Lanka as she overcame Madushika 21-14, 21-18 in the women’s singles match.
Sri Lanka’s Thilini Pramodika and Kavidi made it a 4-1 triumph as they outclassed Mahoor and Palwasha Bashir 21-7, 21-11 in the women’s doubles clash lasting 23 minutes.
In weightlifting, Pakistan’s Abu Sufyan earned a poor 12th position in 69kg category after clearing a weight of 127kg and 130kg in snatch and 156kg, 160kg in the clean and jerk. Gareth Vans of Wales secured gold medal in the category with his overall total of 299kg, followed by Sri Lanka’s silver medallist Indika (297kg) and bronze winner Deepak Cather of India (295kg).
Pakistan fared badly in squash too as Farhan Zaman was crushed by James Willstrop of England 11-5, 11-1, 11-7 in mere 13 minutes.
In the plate match, Faiza Zafar was blanked by Khanliqa Nimji of Kenya in the quarter-final. Faiza earlier defeated Samantha of the Cayman Islands 11-7, 11-3, 11-3.
Scotland’s Kevin Moran defeated Farhan Zaman 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.
Madina Zafar managed to defeat Lymnbette Vai of Papua New Guinea 3-12, 11-7, 11-5 while Tayyab Aslam got a walkover against Micah Franklin of Bermuda.
In swimming, Pakistan’s Bisma Khan obtained seventh position in the 40m freestyle heat clocking a poor 28.65sec.
She will compete in 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke events on Saturday.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2018