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| December 15, 2002 | Sunday | Shawwal 10, 1423 |
Zehra and Nida annex U-14, U-18 crowns
LAHORE, Dec 14: Top seed Nida Rahim, annexed the sixth Haleeb All-Pakistan Junior ranking tennis tournament Under-18 singles title, defeating Zohra Omer 7-5, 6-4 in a straight set final at the Punjab Coaching Centre courts Saturday.
Nida, whose performance is improving consistently faced a tough challenge in the first set, But she displayed good ground strokes and volley shots in the second set to win rather easily.
Zohra Ali, however, fought hard to win the Under-14 singles title, defeating a spirited rival Saba Aziz in the final which stretched to three sets.
Zohra, finally, came out as victor with the score of 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Top seed and defending champion Shahzad Khan and Shahrukh Niazi qualified for the final of the boys’ Under-18 singles.
Shahzad proved too good for Tanvir Ashiq to clinch the semifinals with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Shahrukh, overcame experienced Munir Ashiq in a three set battle lasting over two hours by a score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
He dropped the second set but fought back to claim the deciding third set and with it a place in the final.
In the boys’ singles Under-14 semifinals, Omer Babar and Khurram Nazir also entered the final.
Omer defeated Tanvir Ashiq in three set semifinal 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Khurram, however, mustered an easy win against Fahad Ali 6- 1, 6-0.
Results:
Boys singles (Under-18 semifinals): Shehzad Khan bt Tanvir Ashiq 6-2, 6-3; Shahrukh Niazi bt Munir Ashiq 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
Boys’s singles (Under-14 semifinals): Omer Babar bt Tanvir Ashiq 4-6, 6-4, 7-5; Khurram Nazir bt Fahad Ali 6-1, 6-0.
Girls singles (Under-18 final): Nida Rahim bt Zohra Omer 7-5, 6-4.
Girls singles (Under-14 final): Zehra Ali bt saba Aziz 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).
CAS Open from Dec 18
PESHAWAR: The 22nd edition of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Khyber Open tennis championship will commence from Dec 18, 2002 here at PAF Officer Mess courts, adds APP.
This was stated by Wing Commander Pervaiz Saeed Mir, Director PAF Sports Control Board on Saturday.
He said nearly 100 players from all over the country in various categories like men’s singles and doubles, Under-18, Under-14 and veterans will participate in the championship.
He said, defending champion Aqil Khan will be the top seed. He said the CAS Khyber Open Championship is regularly held for the last 21-year which has now achieved a prestigious status at the national and international level.
Pervaiz Saeed Mir said this time, cash prize has been doubled and about Rs 110,000 will be fixed as prize money besides glittering trophies.
He disclosed that all the arrangements have been completed for the smooth holding of the Championship as the players will be reaching Peshawar on Dec 16.
Pervaiz said that this time no juniors will be allowed to play in a category in which he has been playing for last two-year so that more talented players could get an opportunity to play in Under-14 and Under-18 events.
He hoped after the successful holding of the Pakistan-China Davis Cup tie at PAF gross courts here, Peshawar is now being considered as one of the venue for holding of any international tennis tournament in future.
To a question, he said, New Zealand opted to stay out of the championship due to security fear. However, he expressed his reservations by saying that it would cast negative impact on the tennis game in Pakistan.
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