Top seed Laiba Ijaz and Hamza Niaz lifted the coveted trophies of the Girls and Boys Junior Age Group Squash Championship played here at PAF Jansher Khan Squash Complex on Friday. Airport Manager Bacha International Airport Tahir Sikander Hayat was the chief guest on this occasion and before the start of the two final - between Laiba Ijaz and Nimra Aqeel and Hamza Niaz and Abbas Nawaz, the players were introduced to him.
Former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Vice President Pakistan Squash Federation, coach Riaz Khan, former Pakistan team goal-keeper Abur Rauf Khan, officials, players and spectators were also present.
In the first final of the Under-15 category Laiba Ijaz recorded victory against her strong rival Nimra Aqeel in the three sets battle, the score was 11-6, 11-7 and 11-9. Laiba fully dominated the match and did not allow Nimra Aqeel to strike back. It was only in the third set when Nimra got the lead of 3-9 but Laiba Ijaz came back quickly and first tied the tally at 9-9 and then won the set by 11-9. Laiba has better command over her length and drop shorts against Nimra Aqeel who could not come to and lost the match 3-0.
In the boys Under-11 final promising Hamza Niaz registered victory against Abbas Nawaz in the marathon four sets battle (3-1). Abbas Nawaz won the first set by 11-13 before both were locked at 6-6, 7-7, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11. After conceding the opening set, Hamza Niaz managed his position and with better playing strategy won three consecutive sets by 11-9, 12-10 and 11-7 to march as victorious. Hamza faced tough resistance at the hands of Abbas Nawaz in the second and third set but he played with determination putting his rival under pressure by taking three sets in a row.
At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies to the Girls Junder-15 winner Laiba Ijaz and Hamza Niaz, the winner of Boys Under-11. He also lauded the efforts of the KP Squash Association for holding various activities at the grassroots level. He advised the players to keep on hard work so that Pakistan would be able to achieve its lost glory in the world of squash. He said Qamar Zaman, Jehangir and Jansher Khan were used to hard work and that is why they continuously ruled the world.
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