PESHAWAR (APP): Irfan Saeed of Wapda setup final showdown with Muhammad Ali Larosh, also from Wapda, in the Men singels final while defending champion Mahoor Shahzad to face Ghazala Siddique in all Wapda affairs final of the Women singles here in the 58th National Badminton Championship being played here at Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex on Sunday.
Irfan Saeed handed over a shocking defeat to his strong rival and defending champion Murad Ali of National Bank in the first semi-final while Muhammad Ali Larosh recorded victory against Anjum Bashir of NBP in the second thrill-packed semi-final.
In the Women singles first semi-final defending champion Mahoor recorded victory against her tough rival and seeded second Palwasha Bashir of NBP in the straight sets 2-0 and Ghazala Siddique, a promising player, of Wapda beat national junior champion Alja Tariq of Balochistan very comfortably in straight sets 2-0.
Surprisingly, it was an all Wapda’s affair in the Men and Women singles. The men and women players of Wapda did not give much time to other players from different units to settle down and rooted them all from the top positions in the Championship being jointly organized by Pakistan Badminton Federation, KP Badminton Association and Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a picturesque indoor hall, having four international standard badminton courts facilities.
In the first semi-final of the Men singles Irfan Saeed shocked top seeded Murad Ali of NBP by 2-1, the score was 21-19, 6-21 and 21-16. Both Irfan and Murad Ali played well with some fine overheaded smashes, cross-court smashes and excellent service were also witnessed.
In the second semi-finals Muhammad Ali Larosh of Wapda beat Anjum Bashir of NBP by 2-1, the score was 21-23, 21-10 and 21-19. There was a point-to-point process in the first set wherein Anjum seved three sets points by winning the set. After losing the first set Larosh came back strongly and won two continuous set to march into final.
In the Women singles semi-finals both Mahoor and Ghazala have no match and they succeeded in recording victories against their respectives rivals. Mahmood beat Palwasha Bashir by 2-0, the score was 21-6 and 21-13 and Ghazala beat her young rival Alja Tariq 21-16 and 21-12 to reach final. In the men’s doubles Muqeet Tahir (SNGPL) & Kashif Sulehr7879i (NBP) will play the final against Irfan Saeed & Azeem Sarwar of Wapdaa and in the women doubles Zubaira Islam (SNGPL) and Palwasha Bashir (NBP) will clash against Mahoor Shahzad and Ghazala Siddique of Wapda.
Results of semi finals are as under:
Men Singles Semi Final
Irfan Saeed (Wapda) beat Murad Ali (NBP) by 21-19, 6-21, 21-16
M Ali Larosh (Wapda) beat Anjum Bashir (NBP) by 21-23, 21-10, 21-19
Women Singles Semi Final
Mahoor Shahzad (Wadpa) beat Palwasha Bashir (NBP) by 21-6, 21-13
Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Alja Tariq (Balochistan) by 21-16, 21-12
Men Doubles Semi Final
Muqeet Tahir (SNGPL) & Kashif (NBP) beat Raja Zulqarnain (Wapda) & Hasnain (NBP) by 21-15, 21-19
Azeem Sarwar & Irfan Saeed (Wapa) beat Awais Zahid & M Ali Larosh (Wapda) by 21-17, 17-21, 21-17
Women Doubles Semi Final
Mahoor Shahzad & Ghazala Siddiqui (Wapda) beat Sehra Akram & Huma Javed (Wapda) by 21-14, 21-15
Zubaira Islam (SNGPL) & Palwasha (NBP) beat Saima Waqas & Khizra Rashid (Wapda) by 21-8, 21-16.
