May 9, 2005	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1426

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KARACHI, May 8: Khawaja Masroor was declared the senior champion, when he outwitted the fancied Karim Gul Agha 6-3, 6-3, in the final of the National seniors ranking Tennis championship played on Sunday night under floodlights at the hard courts of the Karachi Gymkhana.

With a sizable crowd watching the proceedings, Kawaja was lustily cheered by his band of supporters for every point he built up.

On the other hand Karim Gul Agha did not play badly but it was indeed a sad day for him, finding Khawaja in great form producing many cross court winners, preventing him from winning a title at the very least.

Earlier on Saturday night, Karim fancied to pick up the plus 35 singles crown, received a rude shock at the hands of Shahid Aziz, who breezed through without raising a sweat.

Shahid Aziz was the winner of a double crown. Partnering Baber Ali Khan in the plus 35 doubles event, the pair made short work of Brig. Tariq Sadozai and Tayyab Yousuf 6-1, 6-2, repeating their earlier success in the ITF World Ranking championship held in Karachi in October last at the Karachi Gymkhana. Ironically Brig Tariq and Tasyeeb were also the losers that day.

Baber, the younger brother of former National champion Nadir Ali Khan and the only Pakistani to win a silver medal in tennis at the Asian Games, was indeed a picture of perfection. He too was rewarded with a double crown.

R.H.K. Rafat, the chief guest on the occasion, presented the trophies to the winners and runners-up.

Following were the final results:

Men’s singles plus 45: Khawaja Masroor bt Karim Gul Ahmed 6-3, 6-3.

Men’s doubles plus 45: Humiyun Zafar and Baber Ali Khan bt Brig Tariq Sadozai and Shaheen Minhas 6-3, 6-4.

Men’s singles plus 35: Shahid Aziz bt Karim Gul Agha 6-3, 6-2.

Men’s doubles plus 35: Shahid Aziz and Baber Ali Khan bt Brig Tariq Sadozai and Tayab Yousuf.