October 28, 2001	Sunday	Shaba'an 10, 1422

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LAHORE, Oct 27: Former Davis Cupper Rashid Malik and in-form Asim Shafik caused a major upset of the 38th National Grass Court Tennis Championship at the Bagh-i-Jinnah on Saturday by clinching the men’s doubles title after defeating top seeded Aqeel Khan and Tahir Iftikhar 7-6 (7/5) 7-5.

The ladies singles final remained unfinished due to bad light when No. 2 seed Mehvish Chishti was leading by two games to nil (2-0) against Mariam Rahim. Both had won two sets each.

The mens singles final between top seed Aqeel Khan and Asim Shafik will be played on Sunday at 2 pm.

In the men’s doubles final, the experienced Rashid Malik combined brilliantly with his Davis Cupper partner Asim Shafik and both outwitted Aqeel Khan and Tahir Iftikhar. Asif served well while Rashid hit the winners.

During the first set, both the pairs held their serves till it entered the tie-break. However, Tahir Iftikhar lost his serve in the tie-break and Asim clinched the first set 7-6 (7-5).

Both the pairs were tied at 5-5 in the second set. Rashid and Asim broke Aqeel Khan’s service in the 11th game to gain a 6-5 lead. Thereafter, Asim Shafik held his serve to snatch the second set 7-5 and thus won the match.

Shahzad Khan easily defeated Inam Gul, conceding one game only in both the sets, to annex the junior (under-18) singles title 6-1, 6-1.

Kumail Hasan grabbed the boys, (under-14) singles title by inflicting a facile defeat over Tanvir Ashiq. The loser did put up resistance in the first set but lost 4-6. In the second set, Kumail built an easy 3-0 lead Tanvir Ashiq looked exhausted and fell down while chasing the ball and injured his knee. Tanvir could not continue the game and conceded the final to Kumail.

Bashir Ahmad Gill and Squadron-leader Naveed Najam won the veterans’ doubles (55 years and above) final easily by beating Chaudhry Mohammad Munir and Mohammad Siddiq Virk in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

Results were:

Men’s doubles (Final): Asim Shafik and Rashid Malik bt Aqeel Khan and Tahir Iftikhar 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

Junior singles (under-18) final: Shahzad Khan beat Inam Gul 6-1, 6-1.

Boys (under-14) single’s final: Kumail Hasan bt Tanvir Ashiq 6-4, 3-0 (retired).

Veterans doubles (55 years and above): Bashir Ahmadgill and Sq Ldr Naveed Najam bt Chaudhry Mohammad Munir and Naveed Najam and Mohammad Siddiq Najam Virk 6-2, 6-1.

Ladies singles final (unfinished due to bad light):

Mehvish Chishti 2-0 up in the fifth against Mariam Rahim both had won two sets each after both.