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| December 31, 2005 | Saturday | Ziqa’ad 28, 1426 |
Sara outguns Natasha to claim title
ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Fourth seed Wasif Cheema will be up against top seed Aqeel Khan in Saturday’s final of the second Quaid-i-Azam Islamabad Open tennis championship after both scored fine semifinal victories on Friday.
Wasif picked up his ticket for the decider with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of 8th seed Ikramul Haq on the clay courts of the new Islamabad Tennis Complex.
Executing his strokes intelligently, Wasif was the dominant player although he was troubled a bit on the way by his opponent.
Aqeel was a man in a hurry as he swept aside Mahmood Khan, the tournament’s third seed, 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Second seed Sara Mansoor of the host club was standing tall after knocking out top seed Natasha Afridi 6-0, 6-4 that earned her the ladies singles title.
Noumanul Haq, the No. 1 seed claimed the boys’ under-17 crown defeating his younger brother Sadanul Haq 6-4, 6-3 while the under-15 honours went to Syed Zain Abbas who scored a big upset to capture the title.
Zain, the 4th seed fought gallantly all through to edge No. 2 seed Tabish Raza 7-5, 7-6 (3) in a keenly-contested final.
Top seeds Mahmood Khan and Jahanzeb Khan emerged the champion team, scoring a 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 2 seeds Ikramul Haq and Wasif Cheema in the men’s doubles final.
Ghulam Rasool and Musa Khan claimed the seniors (40 plus) doubles title beating Amir Malik and Brig. Rehan 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile with the tournament now coming to a close, no official of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) was present at the championship which goes to show the kind of interest the managers have in a sport they are supposed to patronise.
Results:
Men’s singles semifinals:
Wasif Cheema bt Ikramul Haq 6- 4, 6-4, Aqeel Khan bt Mahmood Khan 6-2, 6-2
Men’s doubles semifinals:
Mahmood Khan-Jahanzeb Khan bt Saeedul Haq-Azeem Khan 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Men’s doubles final: Mahmood Khan-Jahanzeb Khan bt Ikramul Haq-Wasif Cheema 6-2, 6-3.
Seniors 40 plus doubles final: Ghulam Rasool-Musa Khan bt Amir Malik-Brig Rehan 6-4, 6-4
Ladies singles final: Sara Mansoor bt Natasha Afridi 6-0, 6-4.
Boys’ under-17 final: Noumanul Haq bt Sadanul Haq 6-4, 6-3.
Boys’ under-15 final: Syed Zain Abas bt Tabish Raza 7-5, 7-6 (3).
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