Army’s Shah Khan, Haiqa Hassan clinch singles titles

Pakistan army duo Shah Khan and Haiqa Hassan claimed the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively, while Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) delivered a commanding performance to sweep both team events and the women’s doubles at the 61st National Table Tennis Championship. In the men’s singles final, played at the PSB Hall of the Peshawar Sports Complex, army’s Shah Khan defeated his teammate Abbas Amjad in a thrilling contest 4-3 to lift the title. In the women’s singles final, army’s Haiqa Hassan overcame WAPDA’s Bismah Faryal 4-2 to secure the championship. WAPDA’s Praniya Zaman and Bismah Faryal combined brilliantly to win the women’s doubles gold, defeating the army pair of Haiqa Hassan and Aiman Hassan. WAPDA also reigned supreme in both team events. In the men’s team final, WAPDA’s trio of Talha Bilal, Asim Qureshi, and Obaid Shah beat Punjab’s team of Awais Hassan, Taimoor Khan, and Abu Huraira 4-2. In the women’s team final, WAPDA’s Bismah Faryal, Ayesha Sharjeel, and Praniya Zaman defeated Punjab’s Kulsoom Khan, Zehra Batool, and Adan Shehzadi to claim the trophy. The closing ceremony was graced by Taj Muhammad Tarand, Advisor to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs, as the chief guest. He distributed prizes among the players. Also present on the occasion were Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider, Pakistan Table Tennis Federation Secretary General Ijaz Ahmed, Vice President and Organiser Kifayatullah, and other dignitaries. Addressing the ceremony, Taj Muhammad Tarand expressed satisfaction over the successful hosting of the national championship in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He said the provincial government is paying full attention to the promotion of sports along with improving sports infrastructure to provide better facilities to athletes. He added that sports activities will continue across the province and further steps will be taken to discover and nurture new talent in different sporting disciplines.