ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s top player Palwasha Bashir stormed into the ladies singles final of the First $6000 Yonex-Sunrise Pakistan International Series Badminton Tournament 2016 as she brushed aside Nepal’s Nangsal Tamang 2-0 in the semi-final played here at Liaqat Gymnasium Thursday.
It was perfect day for Pakistan badminton as it will be an all-Pakistan affair in the ladies and men’s singles final. Palwasha started the match as highly underdog against the highly experienced Nangsal. First game was played on a high tempo. Both players played long rallies as none of them was ready to hand over the advantage to other. After some intense rallies, Palwasha took the first game 21-16. She was in devastating form in the second game as she completely outclassed Nangsal and took the game 21-12 to set final meeting with compatriot Mahoor Shahzad who beat Saba Rasheed 2-0 in the second semi-final. Mahoor won the first game 21-14 and she took the second game 21- 10 to cap memorable moment for the host nation.
It would also be all Pakistan affair in men’s final as well as in M Irfan Saeed Bhatti beat Syed Shabbar Hussain 21/9 and 21/9 while Rizwan Azam beat Muqeet Tahir 21/13 and 21/8 to reach into final.
In the mixed doubles first semi-final, Ratnajit Tamang/Nangsal Tamang (Nepal) beat Rizwan Azam/Sara Mohmand (PAK) 21/17, 21/15. In the second semi-final, M Irfan Saeed Bhatti/Mehmoona Ameer beat Murad Ali/Saba Rasheed 18/21, 21/16 and 21/16. In women’s doubles semi-final, Sidra Hamad/Khizra Rasheed beat Ghazala Saddique/Javeria Tahir 21/18, 21/18 and Palwasha Bashir/Saima Manzoor beat Sara Mohmand/Mahoor Shahzad 21/15, 21/09. In men’s doubles semi-final, Irfan Bhatti/Azeem Sarwar beat Anjum Bashir/ Amir Saeed 21/15 and 21/11 and Rizwan Azam/Kashif Ali Sulehri beat M Atique/Awais Zahid (PAK) by 21/10, 21/12.
