Peshawar
Promising Umar retained National Junior Under-16 title for the second consecutive years after handing an upsetting defeat to strong Raja Hassan of Punjab in the final part of the ongoing National Junior Boys and Girls Badminton Championship being played here at Abbottabad Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Brig. Zaheer Ahmad, Director General Army Sports Control Board, Rawalpindi was the chief guest on this occasion who witnessed the final of the Under-16, Under-14 Boys, Girls Under-18 singles and Girls and Boys Under-18 doubles. Organizing Secretary Mian Sadaqat Shah, Secretary KP Badminton Association Haji Amjad Khan, President KP Badminton Association Zafar Ali Khan, officials, players and spectators were also present.
In the thrilling Boys Under-16 singles Umar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced tough resistance against Raja Hassan of Punjab in thrill-packed three sets final, the score was 17-21, 21-18 and 21-09. Umar failed to win the first set and lost it at 17-21 before leveling the tally at 5-5, 6-6, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, 16-16 and 17-all. It was the second set in which despite losing the first set, Umar staged a strong come back and marched into the victory at 21-18 and did the same at 21-09.
In the Under-14 singles final Ibrahim of Punjab defeated Amer Hassan of Army by 21-19 and 21-16.—APP
