Maria Toorpakai Wazir/file photo 

LAHORE: Pakistan's top female squash player Maria Toorpakai Wazir marked the country?s 70th birthday by lifting the trophy of the National Jashan-e-Azadi Squash Championship 2017.

The decorated squash player defeated fellow countrywoman Faiza Zafar 3-0 to claim the National Jashan-e-Azadi Squash title on Monday.

In the men?s competition, Tayyab Aslam won the Championship by defeating Farhan Zaman 3-2.

The squash tournament was inaugurated at the Punjab Squash Complex in Lahore on Friday.

Sports should not be dragged into politics: Maria Toorpakai to critics

Toorpakai, who happens to be former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Aisha Gulalai's younger sister, came under bitter verbal attacks recently by several PTI leaders following Gulalai's allegations against PTI chief Imran Khan.

Toorpakai, however, responded that people casting aspersions on her made no difference to her.

"We are soldiers of sports having our own uniform, our own style," she said, adding that she did not care about politics.