National Badminton Championships

WAPDA to face NBP in men’s team event final

By our correspondent

KARACHI: WAPDA and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) blasted their way into the final of the men’s team event of the 55th National Badminton Championships in Lahore on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and WAPDA moved into the final of the women’s team event.

As per the details, WAPDA edged past SNGPL with an enviable ease 3-0 in the men’s team event first semi-final.

In the first game, Amir Saeed of WAPDA defeated Anjum Bashir of SNGPL 28-26, 23-21 to take a 1-0 lead. In the doubles, Pakistan’s leading shuttler Irfan Saeed and experienced Azeem Sarwar came from behind to overpower Larosh and Nouman of SNGPL 19-21, 22-20, 21-13 to take their lead to 2-0. In the third encounter, Awais Zahid of WAPDA overpowered Shahmeer Iftikhar of SNGPL 21-15, 21-9 to seal a fine win.

In the second semi-final, NBP whacked Higher Education Commission (HEC) 3-0. Murad Ali of NBP got the better of Muqeet Tahir of HEC 21-15, 22-20 to help his side take the lead. In the doubles, Murad and Ijaz of NBP thrashed the pair of Muqeet and Uaakeph of HEC 21-19, 21-19 to strengthen their position. Rizwan Azam of NBP then overwhelmed Ammar Masood of HEC 21-11, 21-15 to complete the rout.

In the women’s team event first semi-final, SNGPL came from 0-2 down to snatch a hard-earned 3-2 win against NBP. Pakistan’s experienced player Palwasha Bashir provided NBP a 1-0 lead when she defeated Zubaira of SNGPL 21-9, 17-21, 21-17. The pair of Palwasha and Sara of NBP then overcame Javeria and Iqra of SNGPL 21-10, 21-16 to make it 2-0 in the bankers’ favour.

However, at this stage, Ghazala Siddique of SNGPL beat former national champion Ayesha Akram of NBP 21-13, 21-12 to reduce the deficit to 1-2. The duo of Ghazala and Zubaira of SNGPL then upstaged Afshan and Ayesha of NBP 21-13, 21-13 to level the game. In the decisive game, Javeria Tahir of SNGPL did a fine job to oust Sara Mohmand of NBP 21-14, 16-21, 21-14 to complete a tough win.

In the other semi-final, WAPDA whacked Islamabad 3-0. Mahoor Shahzad of WAPDA, who recently won gold in the women’s singles in an international event in Islamabad, defeated Alja Tariq of Islamabad 21-8, 21-4 to take a 1-0 lead. In the second game, the pair of Saima and Mahoor of WAPDA overcame Alja and Sumayia of Islamabad 21-11, 21-14 to double the lead. Sehra Akram of WAPDA then overpowered Sumayia of Islamabad 21-11, 21-8 to seal a convincing win.