( *Credit image : The Express Tribune)
Pakistan were big winners in this year's Yonex Sunrise Pakistan International Series badminton championships which ended at the Liaqat Gymnasium Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan on Sunday.
The hosts, won the women's singles through Mahoor Shahzad and the women's doubles through Palwasha Bashir and Khirza Rasheed while Rizwan Azam-Sulehri Kashif Ali took the men's doubles.
Mahoor Shahzad exuded confidence in her straight games 21-15, 21-19 win over Sri Lanka's Hasini Nusaka Ambalangadage in 36 minutes for the women's singles title.
It was double joy for Pakistan's women shuttlers when Palwasha Bashir and Khizra Rasheed, the second seeds, staged a remarkable performance of attacking badminton to upset compatriots and top seeds Sehra Akram-Huma Javeed 21-12, 21-11 to take the doubles title in a quick 23 minutes.
Top seeds and favourites Rizwan Azam-Sulehri Kashif Ali romped to a 21-18, 21-18 straight games win in 37 minutes over compatriots and third seeds Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti-Azeem Sarwar for the men's doubles title.
The men's singles title went Vietnam's way with top seed Duc Phat Le coming back from a game down to defeat second seed Emre Lale of Turkey 15-21, 21-11, 21-11 in a 40-minute encounter.
In the all-Nepal mixed doubles final unseeded Dipesh Dhami-Shova Gauchan pulled off a stunning upset in straight games 21-14, 21-13 over top seeds and defending champions -Tamang siblings – Ratnajit and Nangsal in 27 minutes.
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
MEN'S SINGLES
Duc Phat Le (VIE) beat Emre Lale (TUR) 15-21, 21-11, 21-11
MEN'S DOUBLES
Rizwan Azam-Sulehri Kashif Ali (PAK) beat Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti-Azeem Sarwar (PAK) 21-18, 21-18
WOMEN'S SINGLES
Mahoor Shahzad (PAK) beat Hasini Nusaka Ambalangadage (SRI) 21-15, 21-19
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Palwasha Bashir-Khizra Rasheed (PAK) beat Sehra Akram-Huma Javeed (PAK) 21-12, 21-11
MIXED DOUBLES
Dipesh Dhami-Shova Gauchan (NEP) beat Ratnajit Tamang-Nangsal Tamang (NEP) 21-14, 21-13
