Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (January 5, 2022):-The rising badminton girl, Alja Tariq from Balochistan became the first girl, who declared winner of All Pakistan National Women’s Badminton Ranking Tournament, when an injury compelled Olympian Mahoor Shahzad (WAPDA) to retire hurt in the final, although she was ahead and six points away from great victory against Alja at 6-21, 8-15. The women ranking conclude at Wali Khan Sports Stadium Charsadda on Friday 31st December 2021.
It was her debut event in the senior women category being Under-18 of age. Earlier Alja had won National Junior Under-18 Girls Badminton Championship (Singles) held at Lahore in October 2018 while she was just 15 years old which was also a historical record. It is important to mention here that Alja remained under training with International badminton coach Raziuddin Ahmad in July 2018, when her family was shifted to Islamabad from Quetta.
Unfortunately she suffered serious knee injury at Abbottabad during the national junior just before the 33rd National Games Peshawar 2019 and remained out from national circuit for two years.
Alja Tariq said:
“All Pakistan Ranking Tournament was very important for me to rejoin national circuit as recently I went under rehabilitation from injury. It encouraged me a lot when I defeated 2nd seeded Ghazala Siddiqui in a three games battle by 2-1 at the pre-quarter stage as she was the main hurdle in my round. Later on I did not consider a tuff rival to Zubaira (SNGPL) and 4th seeded Bushra Qayyum (WAPDA) and out classed them in straight games 2-0.”
Alja further said that during the all matches she was in touch with my coach Sir Razi, and kept gaining valuable guidance for each match. “His arrival at the final match boosted me a lot but I was still nervous to play against very experienced national champion, an international Mahoor Shahzad, “he viewed.
“I started to play ordinary and could not control the first game and vanished easily at just six points. Here I could not follow the guidelines of coach, as I was in huge pressure. My mentor was calling me to bring Mahoor on the net and return the shuttle to the rear cross court with low projectile on either sides. But inside, I was under pressure of the final match playing for the first time. In the 2nd game coach gave me confidence to control the game to take it for the third game, “she replied a question.
Coach Raziuddin Ahmad said:
“Alja Tariq was unseeded player was too young to play this final among the well experienced senior professional women players who were representing different departments. Now, she needed mental preparation training for the top national competitions. Further Covid-19 and her injury wasted two precious years of progressive training but soon we will start with new plan as Alja got admission in 1st year Kinnaird College for Women Lahore which is close to Islamabad than Quetta so easier to continue the training.”
