Hamza Ibrahim of Peshawar become the new youngest champion after defeating his strong rival Shoaib Riaz of Bannu in the final of the KP Badminton Open Championship played here at Wadood Hall, Qayyum Sports Complex on Thursday. Hamza got the honor of becoming the champion in just 18-year when he shocked former National Inter-Provincial Under-16 Champion Shoaib Riaz in a marathon 2-1 battle. The score was 19-21, 21-18 and 21-17.
The final produced great show and both Hamza and Shoaib Raiz exhibited classic display in front of jam-packed spectators who responded well with their cheering hands. In the Ladies singles Arifa Hassan defeated her elder sister Aqsa Hassan in straight sets, the score was 23-21 and 21-19. Arifa won the title for the fourth consecutive years and was doubled crown when she along with her sister Aqsa recorded victory in the Ladies doubles against former KP Champion Gul Rukh and Aliya of Abbottabad by 2-1, the score was 21-19, 17-21 and 21-18. Arifa has also got the honor of becoming triple crowns when she partner with national champion Murad in the mix-doubles event and won gold medal against Masood and Aqsa, the score was 21-17 and 21-17.
In the Men's doubles Masood and Tahir of KP Police defeated Nadeem and Tahir in three sets battle, the score was 21-19, 16-21 and 21-19. Masood and Tahir dominated the proceedings and did not give much time to Nadeem and Tahir to strike back. At the end, the chief guest Irfan Shinwari, Director Islamia Law College, along with Chairman KP Badminton Association and Deputy Director FIA Imran Shah, Director Operation Tariq Mehmood, Director Sports Syed Saqlain Shah, Professor Bakhtiar Khan gave away gold, silver and cash prizes to the position holders.