KARACHI, April 25: Talented Ahsan Qamar toppled former national singles champion Ali Yar Baig and Imran Mohib snatched a game from reigning national singles champion Wajid Ali in the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals in National Ranking Badminton Championship at KPT Sports Complex Hall here Friday.
Karachi-born PIA’s Ahsan demonstrated superb allround court craft, powerful smashing and placing at the net to down experienced Ali Yar Baig of Allied Bank 15-9, 9-1. Ali Yar withdraw in the second game due to hamstring injury.
Hyderabad-based Imran Mohib representing New Khan Sports Board (NKSB) stunned experienced Wajid Ali of Wapda by snatching the opening game 15-7.
But the experienced International left handed Wajid Ali came back with a vengeance and captured the next two games 15-5, 15-6 to sail into the quarterfinal.
The other seven pre-quarterfinals were decided in straight games.
Second seed Waqas Ahmed also of Wapda faced a strong challenge from Rizwan Rana before registering 15-13, 15-10 triumph.
In the ladies singles reigning national champion Asma Butt, her sister Uzma Butt, Ayesha Akram all three from Wapda and Farzana Saleem of NBP secured place in the semi-finals.
Sindh’s teenager Sara Khan gave third seed Uzma Butt a testing time before going down fighting in extended three games tussle.
Uzma took the opener 11-4 but Sara came back in style, wrapped up the second to par level. But enjoying vast experience diminutive Uzma pocketed the hard fought third game 11-8 to sail into the last four.
Farzana Saleem recovered after dropping the first game to overpower her team-mate Mahirah Abbasi.
Favourite Asma Butt and second seed Ayesha Akram scored straight forward victories to reach the semifinals. Following are the results.
Men’s singles pre-quarterfinals: Wajid Ali (Wapda) bt Imran Mohib (NKSB) 7-15, 15-5, 15-6; Arshad Khan (PTCL) bt Hashir Bashir (Pjb) 15-9, 15-9; Shabbar Hussain (NKSB) bt Anees ur Rehman (KPT) 15-6, 15-3; Umar Zeeshan (NKSB) bt Chaudhry Atique 15-12, 15-5; Ahsan Qamar (PIA) bt Ali Yar Baig (ABL) 15-9, 9-1; Zafar Tasneem (Wapda) bt Rizwan Azam (PTCL) 15-6, 15-7; Waqas Ahmed (Wapda) bt Rizwan Rana (NKSB) 15-13, 15-10; Ashraf Masih (PTCL) bt Intikhab Akram (Pjb) 15-11, 15-5.
Ladies singles quarterfinal. Ayesha Akram (NBP) bt Aiman Khan (Sindh) 11-1, 11-5; Umza Butt (Wapda) bt Sara Khan (Sindh) 11-4, 10-12, 11-8; Farzana Saleem (Wapda) Mahirah Abbasi (Wapda) 10-12, 11-7, 11-8; Asma Butt (Wapda) bt Zahida Ali (PIA) 11-4, 11-4,
Men’s doubles Pre-quarterfinals. Umar Zeeshan/Rizwan Rana (NKSB) bt Khalid Saleem/Akif Jalil (Sindh) 15-5, 15-8; Waqas Ahmed/Tahir Ishaq (Wapda) bt Irfan Rana/M.Kahlid (Pjb) 15-8, 15-5; Wajid Ali (Wapda)/Ahsan Qamar (PIA) bt Kashif Raja/Mahboob (Bal) 15-12, 15-11; Ali Yar Baig (ABL)/Zafar Tasneem (Wapda) bt Mathew/Aamir (Bal) 15-2, 15-9; Shabbar Hussain/Atique Chaudhry (NKSB) bt Rafiq Babar/Ijaz (Pjb) 15-5, 15-13; Arshad Khan/Akram Masih (PTCL) bt Shafiq/Nadeem Ishaq (Wapda) Noman Sikander/Imran Mohib (NKSB) bt Hashir Bashir/Tayyab (Pjb) 15-7, 15-7; Asadullah Aleem/Tariq Mahmood (KPT) bt Intikhab/ Shahzad (Pjb) 15-7, 15-12.—APP