May 7, 2005	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1426

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KARACHI, May 6: Khawaja Masroor made a triumphant entry into the final of the men’s singles plus 45 category, when he beat Tahir Gul 7-5, 6-3 in an absorbing semifinal played on Friday evening under floodlights at the Karachi Gymkhana hard courts. Tahir who caused quite a stir on the second day when he eliminated the top seed Humayun Zafar, played some fine tennis but this time found Khawaja a hard nut to crack.

Relying on his service and backhand cross court smashes, Khawaja often caught his opponent napping winning a hard fought first set 7-5. However with confidence soaring higher, Khawaja won the next set and match 6-3.

Going on court once again this time in the men’s doubles semifinal, Khawaja and his hard hitting partner Maqsood Iqbal surrendered the first set 6-3, to Humiyan Zafar and Baber Ali Khan.

But fighting back magnificently won the next set 7-5 after trailing 0-3 at one stage of the second set.

In the final set Khawaja and Maqsood were trailing 2-3 with service in hand. But the two ran out of steam surrendering the set and match 3-6.

Humiyan and Baber will now take on Tariq Sadozai and Shaheen Minhas in the final.

The two had an easier time against Akber Hayat Khan and Karim Gul Agha 6-0, 6-3.

Earlier Akber and Karim booked their berth in the semifinals after accounting for Asfand and Salman 6-1, 6-3.

Also making his way into the Men’s singles final was Shahid Aziz in the plus 35 category, finally overcoming Rizwan 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Shahid will now meet the winner of the unfinished match between Karim Gul and Salman Razvi in the final. At that stage Karim was leading 5-2 in the first set.

Following were the results:

Men’s singles plus 45 (semifinal) Khawaja Masroor bt Tahir Gul 7-5, 6-3. Karim Gul was leading Salman Razvi 5-2 in the first set.

Men’s doubles plus 45: Akber Hayat Khan and Karim Gul Agha bt Asfand and Salman 6-1, 6-3.

Semifinals: Tariq Sadozai and Shaheen Minhas bt Akber Hayat Khan and Karim Gul Agha 6-0, 6-3. Humiyan Zafar and Baber Ali Khan bt Maqsood Ismail and Khawja Masroor 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Men’s singles plus 35:

Shahid Aziz bt Rizwan 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.