May 31, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18,1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 30: A Pakistan Under-16 tennis squad that took part in this month’s Junior Davis Cup in Kuala Lumpur finished 12th out of 17 teams.

The team comprising Wasif Cheema, Kumail Rizvi and Aftab Anwar, could win only one match against Malaysia in a group that also had Australia and China.

Team manager Maj. Qaiser, speaking to Dawn said that they were in a very tough group as Australia emerged the eventual winners of the tournament with China taking third place.

“The boys, except for Wasif Cheema, were inexperienced but the tournament proved to be a good exposure for them,” Qaiser said.

Pakistan were third in their group after they had made an impressive start by beating the hosts with Kumail and Wasif scoring singles victories over their rivals Cheng Yung Jonathan Lee and Nazar Zainuddin respectively. The two then teamed up to beat the pair of Danny Chong and Jonathan Lee in the doubles.

However, Qaiser said that their very next match was a tough one against Australia followed by the game against China, both of which they lost. In the knockout stage, Pakistan were beaten by New Zealand.

Qaiser felt that the boys had gained valuable experience by competing in the tournament and could have fared better if the team had undergone extensive camp training.

Earlier this month, a Pakistan under-14 side had taken 10th spot in a World Junior Tennis Competition (Asia Oceania Zone Qualifying) in Colombo, a championship that featured 15 countries.