KARACHI, Feb 21: Palwashah Bashir and Rizwan Azam of National Bank stood tall by annexing triple crowns as Wajid Ali of Wapda retained his men’s singles title in the 52nd National badminton championship which concluded at the PSB Coaching Centre on Saturday.

Palwashah landed her maiden national women’s singles title when she gets past bank mate Sara Mohmand 21-19, 20-17 (retired) after the latter pulled muscle of her left leg at the match point of second set. The two have made it to the final of the country’s premier championship of the game for the first time.

She teamed up with former national champion Ayesha Akram to inflict 21-18, 21-13 defeat on Wapda’s pair of Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana for the women’s doubles title.

Earlier, she helped NBP retain the women’s team event title beating Wapda 3-0.

National doubles champion pair of Rizwan Azam and Chaudhary Atique retained their title when they accounted for Wajid Ali and Ahsan Qamar 21-16, 16-21, 21-11. Rizwan added mixed doubles title to his tally when pairing with Sara Mohmand the duo stunned holders Chaudhary Atique and Palwashah Bashir 21-18, 21-13. Besides Rizwan was part of the victorious NBP team which dethroned Wapda 3-2.

But it was Wajid who maintained his ascendancy in the men’s singles imposing a convincing 21-16, 21-12 victory over top seed Ahsan Qamar to claim his seventh national title in eight appearances.

Results:

Men’s singles final:

Wajid Ali (Wapda) bt Ahsan Qamar (PIA) 21-16, 21-12.

Women’s singles final:

Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Sara Mohmand (NBP) 21-19, 20-17 (retired).

Men’s doubles final:

Rizwan Azam (NBP) and Chaudhary Atique (Wapda) bt Wajid Ali (Wapda) and Ahsan Qamar (PIA) 21-16, 16-21, 21-11.

Women’s doubles final:

Ayesha Akram and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana (Wapda) 21-18, 21-13.

Mixed doubles final:

Sara Mohmand and Rizwan Azam (NBP) bt Chaudhary Atique (Wapda) and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) 21-18, 21-18.

Veteran’s singles final:

Amir Islam (Wapda) bt Tahir Javed (Wapda) 21-11, 21-6.

Women’s doubles semi-finals:

Ayesha Akram and Palwashah Bashir (NBP) bt Asma Butt and Uzma Butt (Wapda) 21-13, 21-11; Sadia Arshad and Aneeqa Rana (Wapda) bt Afshan Shakil (NBP) and Farzana Ali (Wapda) 21-11,

21-18. — Sports Correspondent