PESHAWAR (APP): The 3rd edition of the National Red Crescent Women Squash Championship got under way here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Wednesday.
Farah Hamid, Begum Lt. Gen (Retd) Hamid Khan, formally inaugurated the Championship in which top women players from across Pakistan are taking part. Mrs. Azra Jamshed, President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries KP, Vice Chairperson Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter, former World Champion Qamar Zanman, Chief Referee Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Munawar Zaman, Executive Member Wazir Gul, Sher Bahadar, Nazim Nawa Khali Sajjad Khan, officials, players and large number of spectators were also present.
Mrs. Farah Hamid hit a short for formal inauguration. In the opening match Hira Aqeel of KP defeated Sabghat of Punjab by 3-1, the score was 11-9, 11-8, 7-11 and 11-9 in a thrill-packed match. Qualifiers, Zohra, Sana Sher Bahadar of Khyber Paktunkhwa, Tayyuba Abbas of Punjab and Kulsoom of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa moved to the main round to be starting from April 18, 2019.
Earlier, in the second qualifying round, Zohra Khan of KP defeated Minahil Durrani of Punjab by 11-4, 11-7 and 11-3, Sana of KP beat Mehwish of KP by 11-2, 11-6 and 11-7, Tayyaba Abbas of Punjab beat Wareesha of KP by 3-0, the score was 11-4, 11-7 and 11-6 and Kulsoom of KP beat Sundas of KP by 11-7, 11-3 and 11-4.
In the first qualifying Minahil Durrani of Punjab, Zohra, Sana, Mehwish, Wareesha, Tayyaba Abbas and Kulsoom moved to the second round after recording victories against their respective rivals. Kulsoom of KP recorded victory against Aysia Imaan by 3-1, the score was 11-5, 11-6, 7-11 and 11-7, Tayyaba Abbas of Punjab beat Minahil Aqeel by 11-4, 11-8 and 11-9, Wareesha and Mehwish got byes, Sana of KP beat Aiman of KP by 3-0, the score was 11-6, 11-7 and 11-8, Zohra of KP beat Ifsa Yousaf by 3-0, the score was 11-3, 11-7 and 11-9, Sundas also got bye.
Talking to media men President KP Squash Association Qamar Zaman thanked PRCS for extending support for the promotion of squash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said top women players from across Pakistan are taking part.
He said the qualifying round of the Championship, sponsoring by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter), was played in the morning before four players moved to the main round of the Championship. He said Amna Fayyaz will defend her title as last year she won the Championship. All the top seeded women players are here in the Championship carrying a prize money of Rs. 0.1 million. He said, it is the second national women event in Peshawar in the current year because of the sponsorship.
He disclosed that besides Amna Fayyaz, international player Muqadas Ashraf, Madina Zafar, Saima Shoukat, Roshna Mehboob, Komal Khan are also part of the Championship.
