Golden Jubilee Panasonic National Championships

Karachi – Pakistan, Jan 8, 2014: Asim Qureshi and Shabnam Bilal emerged as the most successful players at the Golden Jubilee Panasonic National Championships staged in Karachi, Pakistan from Thursday 26th to Tuesday 31st December 2013. Home for the tournament was the Majeed Khan Gymnasium. Each imposed their authority on proceedings and each departed with a very impressive three titles to their credit.

Asim Qureshi

Defending champion, Asim Qureshi won the Men’s Singles title beating Saleem Abbas in the final, after joining forces with Saleem Abbas Kazmi and Bilal Yasin to secure the Men’s Team crown and partnering Saleem Abbas to Men’s Doubles success.

Runners up in the Men’s Team event were Karachi’s Aahil Tabish and Atta Abbas with Rameez Khan and Tabish Khursheed being the Men’s Doubles silver medallists.

Shabnam Bilal

Meanwhile Shabnam Bilal overcame Rahila Kashif to secure the Women’s Singles crown and partnered Rahila Kashif to gold in the Women’s Team and Women’s Doubles events.

In the Women’s Team final they accounted for Ayesha Iqbal, Sadia Falsher and Lousia Irshad; in the Women’s Doubles the pair to end up in runners up spot was Sadia Falak Sher and Lousia Irshad

Mixed Doubles Event

The Mixed Doubles title was won by Saleem Abbas and Ayesha Iqbal; they defeated Asim Qureshi and Sadia Falak Sher in the final.

Young Players Attract Attention

However the players to attract the attention were Rameez Khan, the country’s second ranked junior and Tabish Khursheed, the Junior National Champion.

In the Men’s Singles event, Asim Qureshi needed six games to beat Tabish Khursheed and at the semi-final stage the full seven games to overcome Rameez Khan.

Dignitaries Present

The awards were presented by Dr. Imran Ali Shah, a prominent surgeon and sports lover, who was present to perform the ceremonial duties alongside Lieutenant General Arif Hassan (President of Pakistan National Olympic Committee), Mohammed Sibtain (President of the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation) and Mohammed Tahir Lone, (President of Karachi Table Tennis Association).

Arif Hassan praised the efforts of the Karachi Table Tennis Association, in particular mentioning Mohammed Tahir Lone, Amir Chisti (Chairman) and Alu Farhan Razi (Deputy Chairman) for hosting the Golden Jubilee event in a most successful manner. —- Photo By: Courtesy of Mohammed Sibtain