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NWFP beat Afghanistan in
Table Tennis friendly series
Peshawar—NWFP upset Afghanistan in the opening Test of the Four-Test
Table Tennis Friendly Series, which got under way here at PSB
Coaching Center on Monday.
Director PSB Coaching Center Gul Shad was the chief guest during the
opening ceremony. Secretary of the NWFP Table Tennis Association
Kifatullah Khan warmly received the visiting Afghanistan team.
In the first game of the four games battle, Arif Siddique of NWFP
defeated Saeed Amir Kowodi of Afghanistan by 11-9, 11-7 and 11-3.
Afghanistan player Saeed Amir gave tough resistance in the first set
otherwise Arif dominated the proceedings.
In the second game Muhammad beat Amanullah Azai after a tough fight.
The score was 11-9, 11-7 and 13-11 as Amanullah saved two match
points by hitting some fine smashes.
In the third match Basir Ahmad Swati defeated Sajid Mughal of NWFP
in a thrilling five sets battle. The score was 11-2, 11-4, 7-11,
5-11 and 11-8.
It was in the reverse singles, Rizwan beat top ranking player of
Afghanistan Saeed Amir Kowodi by 3-1, the score was 8-11, 11-9,
13-11 and 11-7. Afghanistan will be 4-Tests matches against NWFP,
FATA, Sarhad-B team besides playing against Pakistan Junior team
here.
Earlier, the six members Afghanistan team comprising manager and
Chief de Mission Muhammad Azam Koi, coach Abdul Hamid Rasooli,
players including No.1 ranking of Afghanistan Saeed Amir Kowodi,
ranked no.2 Amanullah Azai, ranked no.3, Baseer Ahmad Swati and no.1
in Junior ranking Muhammad Ali Hassan Zada were warmly received by
the office-bearers of the NWFP Table Tennis Association.
Talking to APP, Muhammad Azam Koi said that they had a two-month
training before the visit to brotherly country Pakistan. “I’m happy
the way we were received by our Pakistani brothers,” Azam added.
Table tennis, he said was played in 12 provinces of Afghanistan
including Mazar-e-Sharif, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat,
Balkh, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pol, Nangarhar, Jowzjan, Orazgan while women
have the facility to play table tennis in Kabul, Herat, Jawzjan and
Faryab.—APP
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