PESHAWAR (APP): Aqsa Hassan from District Swabi upset current national junior champion and her younger sister Iqra Hassan in the final of the 6th Nazim Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Badminton Championship Women singles played here at Tariq Wadood Hall on Tuesday.
Hailing from Swabi Aqsa Hassan shocked her younger sister Arifa in a marathon three sets battle, the score was 13-21, 21-19 and 23-21. Arifa, who remained national junior champion and also gold medalist for four consecutive years of the Inter-Provincial Women Badminton Championship organized under the aegis, played well but failed to click in front of her elder sister.
“I played with determination and that is why I secured victory against Arifa, who proved to be strong rival,” Aqsa told APP in a post-match talk. “My smashes worked well against Arifa who is strong enough at the net and did not give much chance to her to strike back at the net by putting her all the time on the back foot,” she added. “Today I did not satisfied with my game against Aqsa,” Arifa told this agency. “I tried hard to comeback but I could not because Aqsa played well and succeeded in putting me at the back of the court,” Arifa added.
In the first semi-final Aqsa recorded victory against another promising Urooj of Mardan in the 2-1 battle, the score was 15-21, 21-19 and 21-18 in the first semi-final while Arifa beat Urooj of Police by 2-0, the score was 21-19, 21-18. Urooj did some resistance against Arifa but Arifa played well and did not give much Aqsa beat Urooj of Mardan by 2-0, Arifa beat Urooj of Police by 2-0.
In the Men singles final Haroon-ur-Rehman of KP Police upset three times winner Masood Ahmad, also from Police, by 2-1, the score was 16-21, 23-21 and 23-21 in a thrilling encounter. Haroon Ur Rehman played well and despite losing the first set against strong rival Masood Ahmad. Haroon has better advantage In the mixed double Murad and Arifa beat Shoaib Riaz and Noureen of Bannu 21-19, 17-21 and 21-19.
Murad and Arifa beat Kashif and Alia of Abbottabad by 2-0 in the first semi-final, the score was 21-17 and 21-19 while in the second semi-final Shoaib Riaz and Noureen beat Tahir and Urooj of KP Police by 2-0, the score was 21-19, 21-18. In the doubles Haseeb and Haroon recorded victory against Nadeem and Basit in a thrilling three sets battle wherein both the pairs stretched to full length against each other. It was the first set in which Haseeb and Haroon, hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Nadeem, a qualified coach in the Directorate of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Basit, hailing from Swat by 23-21. The set was tied from the outset at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21 and at end Haseeb and Haroon got the set by 23-21.
After winning the first set, Haseeb and Haroon failed to click in the second set won by Nadeem Khan and Basit Khan at 19-21. The set was thrice tied at 7-7, 12-12 and 19-19 before Nadeem and Basit dominated the proceedings. It was the third and decisive set in which Haseeb Khan and Haroon played well and staged a strong comeback by winning the set by 27-25. Both Haseeb and Haroon faced tough resistance at the hands of Nadeem Khan and Basit Khan in the marathon set. Haseeb and Haroon saved match point for five times against Nadeem Khan and Basit. The set was tied at 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, 24-24, 25-25 before Haseeb and Haroon got the set by 27-25. Haroon and Haseeb beat Hayat Ullah and Shakeel in the first semi-final by 2-1, the score was 16-21, 21-17 and 21-15 while in the second semi-final Nadeem and Basit beat Shoaib Riaz and Kashif by 2-0, the score 21-19 and 21-17.
At the end, former Provincial Minister Syed Aqil Shah was the chief guest on this occasion who gave away trophies and cash prizes. Chairman Sports and Culture Committee of Peshawar District Mian Khan, Member Waseem Amjad, President and Secretary KP Badminton Association Zafar Ali Khan and Haji Amjad Khan, officials and large number of players and spectators were also present.
