PESHAWAR, Oct 12 (APP): Rushna Mehboob stunned top seeded Zoya Khalid in the marathon five sets final of the National Women Squash Championship played here at jam-packed PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Saturday. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports Mehmood Khan was the chief guest on this occasion who also witnessed the thrilling final where both Rushna and Zoya stretched to five sets battle. The final was certainly fought on rattling pace and Rushna of ZTBL and Zoya Khalid, also hailing from ZTBL, exhibited their class in front of the jam-packed spectators fence.
Before the start of the final, the two finalists Zoya Khalid and Rushna along with four players of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprising Laiba Ijaz, Fozia Khan, Laila Akbar and Noorjat were introduced to the chief guest.
The final was started on fast temp and Rushna won the set by 11-9. It was see saw battle and both Rushna and Zoya proved excellent display of drop shorts, long rallies and nick shorts.
Rushna was leading the first set at 5-1 but Zoya Khalid tied the tally first at 5-5 and then at 9-all. Rushna was at 2-9 at one time but after leveling the tally at 9-9, Rushna took the set 11-9. It was the second set when Rushna marched into victory very easily by giving only three points to a bulky Zoya Khalid and got the set 11-3.
After conceding two sets, Zoya Khalid managed her position with some beautiful nick and drop shorts took the third set by 9-11. Zoya was leading the set right from the start but Rushna came from behind and tied it twice at 5-5 and 9-9 before Zoya took the set by 9-11.
In the fourth set both Rushna and Zoya struggled hard for single point and were stretched to 12-14. Zoya was always in the lead but Rushna tied it at 4-4, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10 and 12-12 before Zoya took the set at 12-14. Zoya had good chance of leveling the tally 2-2 before saving set points on three occasions. Rushna did not lost her temper as compared to Zoya Khalid and played with determination by winning the last and decisive set 11-4. The two were tied at 4-4 before Rushna took the set 11-4. The final match lasted for 58 minutes where in the sitting spectators enjoyed the match with their cheering hands.
At the end, the Provincial Minister for Sports Mehmood Khan gave away trophies and cash prizes to the winners and runners-up. Former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Secretary Ihsan Ullah Khan were also present.
Speaking on this occasion, Mehmood Khan lauded the efforts of the KP Squash Association for holding the female national championship for the fourth consecutive times. He announced full government support to the association for holding international events for both male and female in the province. He said Pakistan ruled for 37 long years in Squash at the world level but due to lack of hard work by the players the performance of the players gradually going down.
There are no players even in the top 50 ranking at the world level. He said holding of the tournaments would help boosting up the performance of both male and female players. He also appreciated the performance of KP women who took part in the national event and expressed the hope that they would come up at national and international level.
