National Ranking Badminton
our correspondent
PESHAWAR
Spirited Murad Ali of NBP and Mahoor Shahzad of Wapda clinched the Men and Women Singles titles after defeating their respective rivals in the All Pakistan National Ranking Badminton Championship played here at PSB Coaching Center Hall on Friday.
Director General Sports and Managing Director Tourism Corporation KP Junaid Khan was the chief guest on this occasion and witnessed both the final of the Men and Women singles. Besides him President KP Badminton Association Zafar Ali Khan, Secretary Haji Amjad, Organizing Secretary Mian Saddaqat Shah, international coaches Nadeem Khan and Hayat Ullah, hundreds of spectators were also present and enjoyed the thrill-packed who responded well when both Murad Ali and Mahoor Shahzad were playing for defending their titles being a current national champions against their respective rivals Muhammad Ali Larosh of SNGPL and Ghazala Siddique, also from SNGPL.
Murad Ali, a young champ, hailing from a remote village Tahkal Payan, has an edge of cheering spectators, played well against his relatively week rivals Muhammad Ali Larosh in the Men singles final.
Although Muhammad Ali Larosh had made an upset when he defeated current national champion Muqeet Tahir in straight set yet he did not respond to Murad Ali attacking responses and succumbed to the pressure by losing the final at 21-13 and 21-18. Murad Ali, who also represented Pakistan in Asian Games in Indonesia and Commonwealth Games in Goal Cost, Australia, dominated the proceedings right from the start and marched into 2-0 victory.
“Today I feel proud because for the time my father came and witnessed the final match I won. I lost two National Championship finals earlier own but I succeeded in maintain my ranking,” Murad Ali said in a post-match talks.
Another promising Mahoor Shahzad defeated her rival Ghazala Siddique very easily by 21-4 and 21-9. “I’m holding Pakistan No. 1 ranking by consecutive winning the National Championships since 2016,” a jubilant Mahoor said.
In the Men doubles final Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) & Kashif Sulehri (NBP) beat Raja Zulqarnain (NBP) & Awais Zahid (Wapda) by 21-15, 21-14 and grabbed the title while in the women doubles final Palwasha Bashir (NBP) & Mahoor Shahzad (Wapda) beat Mehmoona & Khizra (Wapda) by 21-7, 30-29. Mehmoona and Khizra went full length in the second set
At the end, the chief guest DG Junaid Khan awarded trophies to the position holders. He also announced Rs. 100,000 for each category winners and Rs. 50,000 for each category runners-up. Speaking on this occasion, Junaid Khan appreciated KP Badminton Association for holding and involving badminton male and female players from all across Pakistan.
He said the KP govt is fully committed a keen to have such like activities in all games in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and merger tribal districts. He said Directorate of Sports is gearing up for holding the 4th edition of Under-23 Games which also includes 25 Tehsils and seven districts of merger tribal areas. He said the govt is also allocated a grant of Rs. 150 million for the forthcoming 33rd National Games for hopefully the Games would be organized in befitting manners.
