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| June 26, 2003 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424 |
Fatima overcomes Hareem after gruelling encounter
KARACHI, June 25: Promising Fatima Hai was engaged in a very long duel before overcoming another promising youngster Hareem Fatima Bhaghat in three sets in the first round of the Caltex Open tennis ladies singles, played on Wednesday at the Modern Club.
In a contest which lasted for over two hours, Hareem playing some aggressive tennis won the opening set 6-2. But Fatima dusting off the cobwebs, came back strongly and with some fine cross court smashes picked up the next two sets 6-3, 6-4 and will now take on top seed Zarmeen Shoaib in the semifinals.
Zarmeen made her entry into the last four without playing a shot. She was awarded a walk-over against Zain Jamali, who failed to turn up at the venue for her match.
In the men’s event Pakistan’s No.6 Jalil Khan, but ranked at No.4 in this tournament, booked his berth for the semifinals after breezing past junior Haris Ilifat in 40 minutes, after dropping only four points.
Earlier fifth seed Akber Pataudi knocked out Iltifat Sheikh 6-2, 6-0 and Ahmed Hussain had to break into a sweat while disposing off Amir Ali Khan 7-6, 6-2. Haris Iltifat received a walk-over against his opponent Khalid Alvi.
Top seed Adnan Khan also booked his place in the semifinals in the Boys under-18 event, brushing aside Danish Ahmed 6-0, 6-1.
Joining Adnan in the last four was second seed Akber Pataudi, who after struggling against Ali Abdullah 7-6 in the first set, took the second set also but in a much easier frame of mind 6-1.
Also through was fourth seed Haris Iltifat, who made short work of Sher Rehman 6-1, 6-1 and seventh seed Amir Ali Khan, who had to bring out all the tricks in the bag in overwhelming Hammad Shoeb 6-4 , 7-5.
Mateen Arif top seeded in the boys under-14 event had to battle hard against the never say die Atio Qasim 6-3, 6-4. Moving ahead also after a stiff encounter, Ghulam Abbas beat Jahahgir Rashid 6-4, 6-4. Nasir Mushtaq after winning the opening set 6-1 against Hassan Ahmed, hard to work hard in taking the second set 7-5. Ali Ashger accounted for S.M. Naeem 6-3, 6-1.
In the Boys under-12 quarterfinal rounds, top seed Ghulam Abbas ended the pretensions of Hassan Jafri 6-2, 6-1. Zain Saleem never dropped a point while disposing off Taha A. Khan 6-0, 6-0 and Omer Shahid ousted Khawaja Hamza 6-0, 6-3.
Top seed Zuhair booked his berth in the final of the Boys under-10 event, beating Taha Bandeali 8-0. Zuhair will now take on Khawaja Hamza in the final, who was awarded a walk-over against Omer Shahid.
Results:
Men’s singles: Ahmed Hussain bt Amir Ali Khan 7-6, 6-2; Akber Pataudi bt Iltifat Sheikh 6-2, 6-0; Haris Iltifat w/o Khalid Alvi.
Quarterfinals
Jalil Khan bt Haris Iltifat 6-2, 6-2;
Juniors Under-18 Quarterfinals
Adnan Khan bt Danish Ahmed 6-0, 6-1; Haris Iltifat bt Sher Rehman 6-1, 6-1; Amir Ali Khan bt Hammad Shoeb 6-4, 7-5; Akber Pataudi bt Ali Abdullah 7-6, 6-1.
Boys Under-14 Quarterfinals
Mateen Asif bt Atiq Qasim 6-3, 6-4; Nasir Mushtaq bt Hassan Ahmed 6-1, 7-5. Ghulam Abbas bt Jahangir Rashid 6-4, 6-4; Ali Asgher bt S.M. Naeem 6-3, 6-1.
Boys Undere-12 Quarterfinals
Ghulam Abbas bt Hasan Jafri 6-2, 6-1; Zain Saleem bt Taha A. Khan 6-0, 6-0; Omer Shahid bt Khawja Hamza 6-0, 6-3.
Boys under 10 Semifinals
Zuhair bt Taha Bandeali 8-0; Khwaja Hamza w/o Omer Shahid.
Ladies singles
Fatima Hai bt Hareem Fatima Bhagat 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; Zarmeen Shoaib w/o Zain Jamali.
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