KARACHI: Wapda and Army emerged as champions in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, in the Combaxx-Roshan Khan National Team Championship, which concluded here at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Complex on Thursday.

In a thrilling men’s final, Wapda edged out Army 2-1, with Ashab Irfan leading the charge. He defeated Noor Zaman in a grueling four-game battle, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, that lasted 43 minutes.

The match was a nail-biter, with little margin for error for both players. However, Ashab’s precision and control proved to be the decisive factor, as he took a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Noor refused to give up, clawing back to win the third game, but Ashab’s composure ultimately paid off, as he sealed the win in the fourth game.

With the momentum on their side, Wapda’s veteran player Nasir Iqbal took to the court, determined to seal the title. He faced off against Huzaifa Ibrahim and delivered a commanding performance, winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-4.

Nasir dominated the first two games, showcasing his experience and skill. Although he seemed to lose steam in the third game, allowing Huzaifa to win, he quickly regained his composure and closed out the victory with a convincing win in the fourth game.

In the final dead rubber Army’s Abdullah Nawaz registered a consolation 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 victory over Sadam-ul-Haq.

The bronze medals were awarded to teams of SNGPL and Punjab. Sindh downed Balochistan earlier on Thursday to clinch the fifth spot. Railways finished seventh while Navy got the eighth position.

Wapda, though, couldn’t complete the sweep as their women’s team lost to Army 3-0.

Faiza Zafar set the tone with a hard-fought 14-12, 11-7, 11-9 win against Mehwish Ali, while Zaynab Khan and Madina Zafar delivered clinical victories to ensure Army’s gold medal.

The championship, which featured top squash teams from across Pakistan, was attended by notable personalities, including squash legend Jahangir Khan.

Jahangir, who won World Open title six times, praised the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the players throughout the championship, advising the young athletes to remain focused on their game and nurture their talent to become world-class players.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2024