December 16, 2002	Monday	Shawwal 11, 1423

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LAHORE, Dec 15: Shahzad Khan from Faisalabad won the sixth Haleeb All Pakistan junior tennis championship Under-18 final thrashing Shahrukh Khan Niazi of Lahore in straight sets at the Punjab Coaching Centre, on Sunday.

Shahzad, who was defending his title, took just 55 minutes to oust Shahrukh with final score 6-2, 6-2.

The lanky Shahzad hardly gave any chance to Shahrukh to pose a serious challenge to him.

Shahzad displayed a good combination of ground strokes and drop shots to earn points frequently. He displayed superb serves and hit three aces while Shahrukh hit one.Shahrukh also committed three double faults while Shahzad nought.

Shahzad broke Shahrukh’s serves in the third and the eighth games and keeping his own ran away with the first set. Shahzad again broke Shahrukh twice in the next set in the fourth and the eighth games which proved the final.

Shahzad received a glittering cup and a cash prize of Rs 6,000. Shahrukh got Rs 4,000.

Earlier, in a hard fought final, Omer Babar defeated Khurram Nazir 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to annex the Boys’s Under-14 title.

Khurram broke Omer’s serves in the fourth game and won the first set. Omer came back roaring and never allowed Khurram to earn any more from the remaining proceedings. Omer with his powerful court crafts upset Khurram who threw away last two sets tamely. The final lasted 90 minutes.

Omer pocketed Rs 4,000 while Khurram Rs 3,000.

Shahzad and Munir Ashiq who also won the doubles’ final against Omer Babar and Khurram Nazir also earned Rs 2500 each. The losing pair got Rs 2000 each.

Nida Rahim who beat Zohra Omer in the ladies Under-18 final received Rs 5,000 and losers Rs 3000. The Under-14 champion Zehra Ali got Rs 2000 while the runnersup Saba Aziz Rs 1000.

Results:

Boys’ Under-18 (final): Shahzad Khan beat Shahrukh Khan Niazi 6-2, 6-2.

Boys’ Under-14 (final): Omer Babar bt Khurram Nazir 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.