F.P. Report
PESHAWAR (APP): International Uzair Shoukat, Noor Zaman, Muhammad Hamza and Muhammad Hanif clinched the titles of the various age categories of the FATA National Junior Squash Championship played here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Saturday.
Director General Youth Junaid Khan was the chief guest on this occasion and witnessed the final. President FATA Olympic Association Shahid Khan Shinwari, President Shinwari Welfare Organization Haji Aslam, Secretary Asad Khan Shinwari, former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Chief Referee Munawar Zaman, players, officials and large number of spectators were also present.
In the Under-17 final Uzair Shoukat recorded victory against Farhan Hashmi of Punjab in the 3-1 battle, the match provided great thrill for the sitting spectators and both Uzair Shoukat international faced tough resistance specially in the fourth set wherein both stretched to 13-11. The score of the other set was 6-11, 11-0 and 11-6.
In the second final of the Under-15 category top seed Noor Zaman defeated Hammad Khan of KP in straight sets, the score was 11-7, 11-5 and 12-10. Noor Zaman did not face any hardship in humiliating his rival in a one-sided affair. Hammad Khan won key matches but failed to click in the final against Noor Zaman who dominated the proceedings.
In the third final of the Under-13 category Muhammad Hamza defeated his strong rival Muhammad Ammad in a marathon five sets which was largely enjoyed by the sitting spectators. Both Muhammad Ammad and Muhammad Hamza stretched at full length against each other.
Muhammad Hamza failed to click in the first set won by Muhammad Ammad at 4-11 but he bounced back and won the second set by 11-5. It was the third set in which Muhammad Ammad recorded victory at 9-11. Muhammad Ammad played well and gave a tough resistance to Hamza to strike back.
Muhammad Hamza after going down by a set, came back strongly and recorded victories in the fourth and fifth sets by 11-7 and 11-9.
In the final of the Under-11 category Muhammad Hanif registered victory against Abdullah Nawaz of PAF in straight sets, the score was 11-6, 11-3 and 11-7. Muhammad Hanif did not face any resistance against his rival Abdullah Nawaz.
At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies and cash prizes to the position holders. A total of Rs. 150,000 has been distributed among all the position holders from the first round to the final of the all the four categories comprising Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17.
Speaking on this occasion, Junaid Khan lauded the performance of the KP Squash Association wherein their players made a clean sweep in the female and male squash event while Laiba Ijaz won doubled gold medal. He also announced Rs. 100,000 for the association. He said they have initiated a comprehensive plan to have squash courts in all districts so that to provide ample opportunities to the youth to come and play squash in which Pakistan dominated for 37 long years in the world.
In his comment former World Champion Qamar Zaman thanked DG sports for giving cash incentives to all the medals winners of the recently held Quaid-e-Azam Games. He said they have been running female squash academy with own resources while Pakistan Air Force is providing all playing facilities inside PAF Jansher Khan Squash Complex, specially meant for female players. Qamar Zaman also thanked office-bearers of the Shinwari Welfare Organization for sponsoring the event and announced that soon a National Girls Junior Squash Championship will be organized. He also appreciated President FATA Olympic Association Shahid Khan Shinwari for extending all support to the youth of FATA to come and participate in healthy sports activities.
