Pakistan’s Mahoor downs Sri Lanka’s Hanini to claim women’s badminton title

Mahoor Shahzad clinched the Pakistan International Series Badminton Tournament women’s singles title

Islamabad: Mahoor Shahzad clinched the Pakistan International Series Badminton Tournament women’s singles title after outclassing Sri Lankan opponent Hanini Nuasak Ambalangodage at the Pakistan Sports Complex’s Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad on Sunday. 

Mahoor, who was unseeded in the tournament, convincingly stunned Ambalangodage 21-15, 21-19.

The 21-year-old champion from Pakistan had made it into the final after causing a big upset in the semi-final by eliminating top seed Vietnam’s Thi Phuong Thuy and keeping her form intact throughout the final. Mahoor never allowed her Lankan rival to settle down. 

Top seed Vietnam’s Duc Phat Le took the men’s singles title after a three-game fight against second seed Emre Lale of Turkey. Lale started off well, comfortably winning the first game 21-15, but Phat Le was quick to respond in the next game courtesy of a superb display of forehands and drop shots, outclassing Lale 21-11 and sealing the third game with the same score.

The men’s and women’s doubles titles were also claimed by Pakistani pairs with Rizwan Azam and Kashif Sulehri defeating Muhammad Irfan Bhatti and Azeem Sarwar 21-18, 21-8 and Palwasha Bashir and Khizra Rasheed convincingly overcoming compatriots Sehra Akram and Huma Javed in straight games 21-12, 21-11. The all-Nepalese mixed doubles final ended up with Dipesh Dhami and Shova Gauchan winning against Ratnajit Tamang and Nangsal Tamang in straight games 21-14, 21-13. 

Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony which was also attended by the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board Dr. Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and Secretary of the Pakistan Badminton Federation Wajid Ali. Pirzada conveyed his appreciation of the performance of participating players. (Source Daily Times)