Wapda retain national table tennis titles

KARACHI: Wapda strongly defended crowns of both men’s and women’s team events when they upstaged Army in finals of the 54th National Table Tennis Championship being held here at the Majeed Khan Gymnasium of Islamia Club on Monday.

In the men’s team event final Wapda overwhelmed Army 3-1. Wapda went 0-1 down when Swat-born Mohammad Rameez lost to Salman Virk 1-3 in the opening game. The set score was 9-11, 15-13, 9-11, 7-11. However, highly experienced and former national champion Asim Qureshi brought Wapda back in the game when he whacked Army’s Fahad Khwaja 3-1 with the set score of 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2. Ali Faisal then provided 2-1 lead to Wapda after crafting a 3-0 victory against Faizan Zahoor. The set score was 11-9, 17-15 and 11-6 in Ali’s favour. Asim Qureshi then whacked Salman Virk 3-0 with the set score of 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 to complete the rout.

Meanwhile in the women’s team event decider Wapda crushed Army 3-0. The country’s leading peddler Ayesha Sharjeel, who will defend her women’s singles title, got the better of Farwa Babar of Army to provide a 1-0 lead to Wapda. The set score was 11-6, 11-3, 11-9. Sadia Falak Sher then outshone Farah Ilyas 3-2 after a razor-tight encounter to double Wapda’s lead. The set score remained 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8. It was then left to Sanam Yaseen who upstaged Seemab Alam 3-2 to complete a well-deserved victory. The set score was 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8.