Sheraz wins KP Super League Squash Age Group title

Second-seed Sheraz Akbar shocked top seed Humam Ahmad in a thrilling final of the KP Super League Squash Age Group Boys Championship Under-11 category here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Friday. Member Congress Pakistan Hockey Federation and Secretary KP Hockey Association Syed Zahir Shah was the chief guest on this occasion.
Former World Champion and Vice President Pakistan Squash Federation Qamar Zaman, Chief Referee PSF Munawar Zaman, officials, players and large number of spectators were also present. The thrill-packed final produced great thrill for the sitting spectators as both Sheraz Akbar and Humam Ahmad were stretched to five sets battle. Sheraz Akbar secured victories in the first two sets, the score was 13-11 and 12-10.
The first set was tied at 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11 before this Sheraz took the set. Humam Ahmad also gave tough resistance in the second set to Sheraz Akbar as he tied the tally at 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10. After conceding two sets, Humam Ahmad, who reached to Pakistan No. 2 after struggling at 28 in the national ranking, staged a strong come back and won two consecutive sets by 11-13 and 9-11 but he lost the fifth and decisive set after a closing fight, the score was 12-10.
In the Under-13 Muhammad Hamza defeated top seeded Waleed Khalil by 3-0, the score was 11-7, 11-6 and 11-7. Muhammad Hamza played well and did not give much time to Waleed Khalil to strike back and thus marched into victory. In the Under-15 category final international Asad Ullah also faced tough resistance against Noor Zaman in the marathon five sets battle, the score was 12-10, 7-11, 11-13, 11-9 and 12-10. Both Asad Ullah and Noor Zaman produced good display of attacking strokes, nick and perfect drops.
At the end, the chief guest Syed Zahir Shah gave away trophies and cash prizes to the winners and runners-up. Qamar Zaman on this occasion, said that top eight players of the each category comprising Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 will be short-listed for the KP Squash Academy. He said the association have given due importance to the age groups so that through competitive exposures good players would come up at national and international levels.
Syed Zahir Shah lauded the efforts of KP Squash Association and termed in very vibrant by holding more than 21 to 22 tournaments in the yearly calendar. He urged the players to keep their hard work if want to come up at national and international levels.