Murad faces Ali in National Badminton final

LAHORE: Defending champion Murad Ali (NBP) and Ali Mehdi (Wapda) will face off in the ultimate showdown of of the men’s singles final of National Badminton Championship here on Thursday at Nishter Park sports complex hall.

Both the finalists fashioned out victories with ease and comfort outshining their respective rivals in semifinal ties on Wednesday. Defending Champion Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) and Ghazala Siddique (SNGPL) will meet in the women singles final.

Results of Wednesday’s matches: Men’s singles semifinals: Ali Mehdi (Wapda) beat Aoun Abbas (Wapda) by 21-18, Aoun Abbas retired hurt due to injury problem. Murad Ali (NBP) beat Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) by 21-15, 21-15. Women’s singles semifinals: Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) beat Sehra Akram (Wapda) by 21-8, 21-5, Ghazala Siddique (SNGPL) beat Aneela Irshad (Wapda) by 22-20, 18-21, 21-13.

Mixed double quarterfinals: Awais Zahid & Sehra Akram (Wapda) beat Shahmeer & Javeria Tahir (SNGPL) by 21-19, 21-17, Waqas Ahmed & Saim Waqas (Wapda) beat Zunnain & Mehmoona (Wapda) 12-21, 21-13, 21-14, M Ali Larosh & Ghazala Siddique (SNGPL) beat Raja Haider & Minal Tariq (NBP) by 19-21, 21-8, 21-17, Rizwan Azam & Sara Mohmand (NBP) beat Attique Ch. & Khizra (Wapda) by 15-21, 21-12, 21-17.

Mixed doubles semifinals: Awais Zahid & Sehra Akram (Wapda) beat Waqas Ahmed & Saima Waqas (Wapda) by 21-14, 19-21, 21-14, Rizwan Azam & Sara Mohmand (NBP) beat M Ali Larosh & Ghazala Siddique (SNGPL) by 12-21, 21-16, 21-18.

Women doubles semifinals: Saima Waqas (Wapda) & Ghazala Siddique (SNGPL) beat Aneela Irshad (Wapda) & Zubaira Islam (SNGPL) by 21-16, 22-20, Sehra Akram & Huma Javed (Wapda) beat Mahoor Shahzad & Khizra Rasheed (Wapda) by 21-17, 21-16.