NWFP beat Afghanistan in 4-Test Table Tennis Friendly Series
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—NWFP upset Afghanistan in the opening Test of the Four-Test Table Tennis Friendly Series, which got under way here at PSB Coaching Center on Monday.
Director PSB Coaching Center Gul Shad was the chief guest during the opening ceremony. Secretary of the NWFP Table Tennis Association Kifatullah Khan warmly received the visiting Afghanistan team.
In the first game of the four games battle, Arif Siddique of NWFP defeated Saeed Amir Kowodi of Afghanistan by 11-9, 11-7 and 11-3. Afghanistan player Saeed Amir gave tough resistance in the first set otherwise Arif dominated the proceedings.
In the second game Muhammad beat Amanullah Azai after a tough fight. The score was 11-9, 11-7 and 13-11 as Amanullah saved two match points by hitting some fine smashes.
In the third match Basir Ahmad Swati defeated Sajid Mughal of NWFP in a thrilling five sets battle. The score was 11-2, 11-4, 7-11, 5-11 and 11-8. It was in the reverse singles, Rizwan beat top ranking player of Afghanistan Saeed Amir Kowodi by 3-1, the score was 8-11, 11-9, 13-11 and 11-7. Afghanistan will be 4-Tests matches against NWFP, FATA, Sarhad-B team besides playing against Pakistan Junior team here.
Earlier, the six members Afghanistan team comprising manager and Chief de Mission Muhammad Azam Koi, coach Abdul Hamid Rasooli, players including No.1 ranking of Afghanistan Saeed Amir Kowodi, ranked no.2 Amanullah Azai, ranked no.3, Baseer Ahmad Swati and no.1 in Junior ranking Muhammad Ali Hassan Zada were warmly received by the office-bearers of the NWFP Table Tennis Association.
Talking to newsmen, Muhammad Azam Koi said that they had a two-month training before the visit to brotherly country Pakistan. “I’m happy the way we were received by our Pakistani brothers,” Azam added.
Table tennis, he said was played in 12 provinces of Afghanistan including Mazar-e-Sharif, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, Balkh, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pol, Nangarhar, Jowzjan, Orazgan while women have the facility to play table tennis in Kabul, Herat, Jawzjan and Faryab.
He said that Olympic Association of Afghanistan is trying its level best to promote Table Tennis along with other games. About the aim and objective of the visit to Pakistan, he said, it would further cement brotherly ties between the two countries. He said exchange of sports team visit would provide due chance to the players of both sides of the border to learn from each other experiences.