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| June 1, 2003 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424 |
Nomi humbles Aqeel for title
KARACHI, May 31: Second seed Nomi Qamar was the toast of the tennis fans at the Karachi Club, when he toppled seed No.1 Aqeel Khan in three gruelling sets in the final of the Anti-Tobacco Day Tennis Tournament organised by the Pakistan Women’s Tennis Association on Saturday.
Both Davis cuppers Aqeel and Nomi attacking from the baseline were 2-2 in the first set when Aqil lost his service with some erratic play and was soon trailing 2-4, when Nomi cashed on his service.
The top seed went further into the doldrums losing service once again.
However it was now Nomi who registered numerous blunders which saw Aqeel creep closer 4-5. Rather disappointed with a call that went against him, Nomi fought back and with a series of winners picked up the first set 6-4.
A set down Aqeel began to find his rhythm at last and raced ahead in the second set 4-0, which soon increased to 5-1.
Nomi trying his level best to stem the tide, fought back courageously and was trailing 3-5, before Aqeel with two lovely cross court smashes levelled the scores 1-1 by winning the second set 6-3.
Twenty-two year old Nomi began the final set in a disasterous manner.
Losing his service he was soon 0-2 in arrears. With the odds now stacked against him, Nomi was not giving up in a hurry. Getting back into his strides, he not only levelled the scores at 2-2, but stole the lead for the first time in the final set 3-2. Soon the lead increased to 4-3, with each player winning a game.
Aqeel gave his supporters something to cheer about when he drew abreast 4-4, but Nomi taking advantage of Aqil’s several errors, won the third set and match 6-4.
For Nomi is was indeed a happy moment. Last year he was beaten by Aqeel in the final that also went the distance.
Top seed Sana Bhagat won the ladies final but had to work up a sweat in overcoming the challenge of Zarmeen Shoaib 6-3, 6-4 to win this tournament for the third successive time. Sana once seeded as Pakistan’s No.4, was out of tennis for two long years with a slipped disc. The youngster, however, practised hard after recovering from her mishap which had its reward.
Aqeel however got some consolation by winning a trophy. Partnering Jalil Khan in the men’s doubles final, the pair accounted for Nomi Qamar and Shahzad Sama 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The veteran doubles crown was won by Shahid Hussain & Akbar Khan who got the better of Tariq Aziz & Nadeem 6-2, 6-2.
The Bhagats, Asad and Ali, won the executive doubles title beating off a keen challenge by Mohammad Ali and Ahmed Hussain 6-4, 6-2.
Following were the results:
Men’s singles (final): Nomi Qamar bt Aqeel Khan 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.
Ladies singles (final): Sana Bhagat bt Zarmeen Shoaib 6-3, 6-4.
Men’s doubles (final): Aqeel & Jalil Khan bt Nomi Qamar & Shahzad Sama 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Veteran’s doubles (final): Shahid Hussain & Akbar Khan bt Tariq Aziz & Nadeem 6-2, 6-2.
Executive doubles (final): Asad Bhagat & Ali Bhagat bt Mohammad Ali & Ahmed Hussain 6-4, 6-2.
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