ISLAMABAD - Mahoor Shahzad of Wapda Sunday created history by becoming ladies singles champion after thrashing top seed Sri Lankan Hasini Nausaka Ambalangodage 2-0 in the $9000 Pakistan International Series Badminton Tournament 2017 final here at Liaqat Gymnasium on Sunday.
It was electrifying final, as not only Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Riaz Pirzada, along with PSB DG Akhtar Ganjera and the entire crowd, was right behind Mahoor, who proved to be a wonder girl and not only won the title for Pakistan, but also won many hearts during the four-day championship.
Mahoor was underdog in the final, while on the other hand, her opponent had vast international exposure behind her back. The massive crowd was playing its due role and different male and female players, who are staying at the PSB to train for international events, also turned up in huge numbers to support the Pakistani badminton champ.
Mahoor lived up to the expectations and played out her heart. She was playing like a tigress and never looked in any sort of trouble or pressure while playing her first major final in front of huge crowd. She used all these things to the best of her advantage and was looking very cool, calm and composed. She was focused on just one task of winning the title, in which she remained successful.
It was close first game, as both the girls played some fantastic backhands, powerful smashes and long lobs, but Mahoor was in supreme control throughout the game. She played clever shots, when it mattered the most and took the first game 21-15 in 23 minutes. The second game proved to be a close one, as Nausaka tried to keep pace with the fast running away Mahoor, and took 8-5 lead for the first time in the final. But Mahoor remained focused and soon she made it 8-8 and then 10-8. It was see saw battle, where both the players kept on taking points at rapid pace, but Mahoor changed the gears and wrapped up the game 21-19, thus won her maiden international title.
The IPC Minister and PSB DG and entire arena rose up to pay salute to newly-crowned champion. Soon after title win, Mahoor bowed down to pay thanks to Almighty, then she shook hand with her opponent. All the players rushed to the court to congratulate her.
In the men’s singles final, Duc Phat Le of Vietnam won the title after defeating Turkish Emre Lale 21-11, 21-11. Pakistani pair of Rizwan Azam/Kashif Sulheri won the men’s doubles title after beating compatriots M Irfan Saeed bhatti/Azeem Sarwar 21-18, 21-18. Pakistan’s Palwasha Bashir/Khizra Rasheed won the women’s doubles title after defeating Sehra Akram/Huma Javed 21-12, 21-11. Nepal’s Dipesh Dhami/Shova Gauchan won the mixed doubles title after defeating compatriots Ratnajit Tamang/Nangasl Tamang 21-14, 21-13.
IPC Minister Riaz Pirzada was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. While awarding the ladies singles trophy to Mahoor, the minister promised to take very good care of her and passed on directives to the PSB DG to take up Mahoor as special case. DDG Administration Mansoor Ahmed, DDG Facilities Agha Amjed Ullah, Director Media Azam Dar, Assistant Director Hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussian, Pakistan Badminton Federation secretary Ch Wajid along with others were also present on the occasion, but like past, PBF president Iftikhar Hussian was the notable absentee.
