International players Uzair Shoukat, Noor Zaman, Muhammad Hamza and Muhammad Hanif clinched the titles of the various age categories of the FATA National Junior Squash Championship played here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex on Saturday. Director General (DG) Youth Junaid Khan was the chief guest on this occasion and witnessed the final. President FATA Olympic Association Shahid Khan Shinwari, President Shinwari Welfare Organization Haji Aslam, Secretary Asad Khan Shinwari, former World Champion Qamar Zaman, Chief Referee Munawar Zaman, players, officials and large number of spectators were also present.
In the Under-17 final Uzair Shoukat recorded victory against Farhan Hashmi of Punjab in the 3-1 battle, the match provided great thrill for the sitting spectators and both Uzair Shoukat international faced tough resistance specially in the fourth set wherein both stretched to 13-11. The score of the other set was 6-11, 11-0 and 11-6.
In the second final of the Under-15 category top seed Noor Zaman defeated Hammad Khan of KP in straight sets, the score was 11-7, 11-5 and 12-10. In the third final of the Under-13 category Muhammad Hamza defeated his strong rival Muhammad Ammad in a marathon five sets which was largely enjoyed by the sitting spectators. Both Muhammad Ammad and Muhammad Hamza stretched at full length against each other.
In the final of the Under-11 category Muhammad Hanif registered victory against Abdullah Nawaz of PAF in straight sets, the score was 11-6, 11-3 and 11-7. Muhammad Hanif did not face any resistance against his rival Abdullah Nawaz. At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies and cash prizes to the position holders. A total of Rs 150,000 has been distributed among all the position holders from the first round to the final of the all the four categories comprising Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17.
Speaking on this occasion, Junaid Khan lauded the performance of the KP Squash Association wherein their players made a clean sweep in the female and male squash event while Laiba Ijaz won doubled gold medal. He also announced Rs 100,000 for the association. He said they have initiated a comprehensive plan to have squash courts in all districts so that to provide ample opportunities to the youth to come and play squash in which Pakistan dominated for 37 long years in the world.