Daily Times

KARACHI: Veterans Asim Qureshi and Shabnam Bilal recaptured men and women’s singles titles, both for an overall sixth time, in the 54th Jubilee Insurance National Table Tennis Championship which concluded at the Islamia Club’s Majeed Khan Gymnasium here Thursday. Experienced top seed Asim prevailed over second seed and much younger Mohammad Rameez 11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 in the best of seven final that fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, neither there was any thrill or excitement in the final nor it witnessed long rallies which used to be the hallmark of the game. The men’s singles title had fallen vacant after last year’s champion Saleem Abbas called it a day. By virtue of winning the men’s singles top honours, Asim became the only player to win a triple crown, having captured the men’s team event and mixed doubles titles earlier.

It is pertinent to mention that Asim emerged on the domestic horizon when he won his first national men’s singles title quarter-of-a-century ago in 1993. This was followed by triumphs in 2002, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018. “I am delighted for winning men’s singles honours yet again and ending the event with a triple crown,” a beaming 52-year-old Asim said after the victory. For 22-year-old Rameez, who is a native of Swat, it was second successive men’s singles final. He fell victim to Saleem Abbas in the title clash at Islamabad last year.

Pakistan No 1 and the top seed Shabnam made her mark after a wait of five years by dethroning the reigning champion and second seed Ayesha Sharjeel 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 in the final. “I’ve prepared hard for the event and am happy that things ended favourably,” Shabnam, who is married to former international player Bilal Yaseen and mother of two children, said. Fancied WAPDA completely dominated the country’s premier ping pong championship winning half-a-dozen titles out of seven that were at stake. Army picked up the remaining one title. Commissioner Karachi Ejaz Ahmed Khan, who graced the finals, gave away the medals and trophies. Also present on the occasion were Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) officials and many former internationals.

Published in Daily Times, January 13^th 2018.