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| November 2, 2002 | Saturday | Sha’aban 26,1423 |
Favourites dominate semifinals
LAHORE, Nov 1. All top four seeds, Aqeel Khan, Asim Shafik, Nomi Qamar and Rashid Malik cruised into the semifinals of the Global Telecom National Grass Court tennis championship men’s singles event at the Punjab Coaching Centre courts in Bagh- i-Jinnah Friday.
Aqeel ousted a talented but less experienced Shahzad Khan in the straight set quarterfinals earning an easy win with the score of 6-2, 6-3. Aqeel showed great form and never allowed Shahzad to make a match from it from the word go.
Second seed, Shafik had no difficulty in brushing aside the challenge of promising Wasif Cheema 6-2, 6-3.
Unseeded Wasif who beat sixth seed Shafique in the pre- quarterfinals, failed to excel before a far superior Shafik in the Friday’s match.
Nomi Qamar, third seed, was extended to the limit by Inam Gul (the eight seed) from Peshawar in the first set which the former won at 7-5. In the second set, Gul seemed to
have run out of stamina and lost 3-6.
Veteran Rashid Malik made the last four beating youngster Shahzad Samad 6-2, 6-3.
In the semifinals, Aqeel will meet Nomi at 1pm followed by the second prefinals between Rashid and Shafik.
In the men’s doubles, the no 1 pair of Aqeel and Rashid entered the final. They overcame the pair of Shafik and Samad in a three set battle which lasted two and a half hours. Rashid and Aqeel won with the score of 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 6-4. They will meet the pair of Mohammad Shafique and Jalil Khan who defeated Aurangzeb and Nomi 6-3, 6-7 (7/3), 6-0 in another prefinals.
In the ladies’ singles, the top seed Syliva Okollo, second Marium Rahim with Nausheen Ihtesham entered the prefinals.
Boys Under-18 and 14 events also entered the semifinal stage.
Results:
Men’s singles quarterfinals. Aqeel Khan bt Shahzad Khan 6-2, 6-3; Nomi Qamar bt Inam Gul 7-5, 6-3; Rashid Malik bt Shahzad Samad 6-2, 6-3; Asim Shafik bt Wasif Cheema 6-2, 6-3.
Men’s doubles. Aqeel Khan-Rashid Malik bt Asim Shafik-Shahzad Samad 6-7 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4. Muhammad Shafiq -Jalil Khan bt Aurangzeb-Nomi Qamar 6- 3, 6-7 (7/4), 6-0.
Ladies’ singles quarterfinals. Mariam Rahim bt Zohra Omer 6-2, 6-4; Syliva Okollo bt Shis Ihtesham 6-0, 6-0; Nausheen Ihtesham bt Seema Sheikh 6-2, 6-0. Boys Under-18 (quarterfinals): Shahzad Khan bt Omer Babar 6-2, 6-2; Babar Ali bt Aftab Anwar 6- 2, 7-6 (7/5), Munir Ashiq bt Tanvir Munir 6-3, 6-0.
Boys U-14 (quarterfinals); Tanveer Munir bt Yaser Khan 6-2, 6-4; Khurram Nasir bt Pitras Masih 6-1, 6-0; Omer Babar bt Shehryar Niazi 6-1, 6-2.
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