October 14, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 26, 1422

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LAHORE, Oct 13: Second seed Maira Rahim worked hard to capture the ITF international junior tennis ranking championship girls’ singles title defeating Iram Arshad in three-set at the Punjab Tennis Association grass courts in Bagh-i-Jinnah Saturday.

Maira Rahim eventually wore down her opponent 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.

In the boys’ doubles final, top seeded pair of Shahzad Khan and Munir Ashiq prevailed upon Ashiq Rasool and Babar Ali also in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

The girls’ final lasted two hours in which Maira had difficulty in winnning the first set 6-1. Iram, however, staged a come back and made Maira run all over the court with fine attacking to take the second set 6-2.

With everything to play for in the deciding the third set, Iram forge ahead 3-1 lead by breaking Maira twice and holding her own serve.

However. Maira, from seemingly in trouble, started her recovery by winning the fourth game. From then on, it was a neck to neck fight as both girls sweated it out from the baseline till 5-5. Maira won her service game to lead 6-5. In the next game deuce was called seven times before Iram netted a down the line forehand to give her rival the victory.

Shahzad Khan and Munir Ashiq as expected met few problems in annexing the doubles title. After winning the first set 6-1, the top seed lost concentration and allowed Ashiq and Babar back into the match losing the second set 6-3.

But it was a totally ball game in the final set as Shahzad and Munir took command by taking 3-0 lead and although the losing pair did grab three games they were never in the hunt and finally surrendered to their superior opponents.

The boys’ singles final between Shahzad Khan and Ashiq Rasool will be played Sunday at 3pm.

Results: Girls singles (final): Maira Rahim bt Iram Arshad 6-1,2-6, 75.

Boys Doubles (final): Shahzad Khan and Munir Ashiq bt Ashiq Rasool and Babar Ali 6-1,3-6, 6-3.