Afghanistan beat FATA in TT Test Series
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—Afghanistan defeated FATA by 3-2 in the thrilling second Test of the Four-Test Pak-Afghan Table Tennis Series being played here at a indoor PSB Coaching Center on Tuesday.
Afghanistan, was beaten against NWFP in the opening match, came back strongly against FATA by securing 3-2 victory in the thrilled packed encounter witnessed by capacity Afghan crowd present on this occasion.
The thrilling match was stretched to five sets as Afghan team lost the two opening set but staged a strong come back by winning three consecutive sets by marching into 3-2 victory.
Afghanistan Junior No.1 ranking player Muhammad Ali Hasan Zada, who was recently got training and coaching in Tajikistan, failed to impress his rival Farhad Ashraf. Farhad won the singles by 11-8, 11-5 and 11-7.
It was in the second singles Mohibullah defeated Baseer Ahmad Swati, whose national ranking is no.3, by 3-1. Mohibullah of FATA played sensibly against his strong rival Baseer Ahmad Swati.
Mohibullah took the first set by 11-7 but he failed to continue his rhythm in the second set and failed to win. The score was 9-11. After 1-1, Mohibullah took no time in the third and fourth sets by securing 11-6 and 11-9 victory.
In the third singles Saeed Amir Kowodi defeated Rashid Gul by 11-5, 11-9 and 11-7 in match dominated by Kowodi. Kowodi made it a straight sets victory by giving no time to Rashid Gul of FATA to settle down.
Afghan players have also the support of cheering spectators as Amanullah Azai faced tough resistance against Adil Khan in the thrilling five sets battle. Amanullah Azai played excellent drives and spin serve by eliminating Adil Khan by 11-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 and 11-6.
Adil Khan has strong determination against his strong rival as he gave tough resistance to Amanullah Azai. It was point-to-point process and both the players did their hard efforts for a single points thus the set stretched to 11-12. It was also tied at 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11.
In the reverse singles Saeed Amir Kowodi defeated Mohibullah by 3-1, the score was 11-2, 11-9 and 11-8 while in the fifth singles Baseer Ahmad Swati beat Rashid Gul by 3-0, the score was 11-9, 11-7 and 11-9.
Talking to newsmen Coach of the Afghanistan team Abdul Hamid Rasooli said that all the four players also represented Afghanistan in the 9th SAF Games held in Islamabad.
He said the tour would help Afghan team to learn something from Pakistani players experiences adding that sports activities in Afghanistan were gradually gaining roots and the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan has taken various key steps in order to promote sports activities. He said, NCO is also trying hard to provide as much international exposure as the players needed.