February 17, 2006	Friday	Muharram 18, 1427

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KARACHI, Feb 16: Pakistan’s top tennis player, Aqeel Khan, on Thursday retained his men’s singles crown when he downed Nomi Qamar in straight sets in the Open tennis championship at Karachi Gymkhana.

Aqeel took one hour and 10-minutes in registering 6-4, 6-1 win over his opponent.

The final was originally scheduled for Friday but the organisers held it a day earlier after they learnt that Aqeel was due to fly to Delhi.

Nomi, who represented Pakistan at the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia last year, put up resistance in the opener before Aqeel won 6-4. However, it was an easy sailing for Aqeel in the second as he was home 6-1.

Earlier, Aqeel accounted for Khalid Ali Nazar 6-2, 6-1 in the first pre-final played on Wednesday night. On the other hand, Nomi had to play two matches in a day as he got the better of Yasir Khan 6-3, 6-4 to cruise in final.

Reigning National hard court champion and top seed, Seher Khwaja, posted a comfortable 6-1, 6-1 victory over Japanese Michiko Domichi to claim women’s singles title.

The two women mostly remained engaged in baseline rallies and finally it was the experience that prevailed.

Promising Zuhair Raza took a sweet revenge of his last month defeat when he downed Sunny Williams 6-3, 6-4 to capture boys U-15 title.

The boys U-13 title went to Mustafa Zaidi who overcame Adil Kohari 7-5, 7-5 while Khwaja Hamza clinched the boys U-11 crown beating Imran Mooraj 6-3, 6-0.

Results:

Men’s singles (semifinals):

Aqeel Khan bt Khalid Ali Nazar 6-2, 6-1; Nomi Qamar bt Yasir Khan 6-3, 6-4.

Men’s singles (final):

Aqeel Khan bt Nomi Qamar 6-4, 6-1.

Women’s singles (final):

Seher Khwaja bt Michiko Domichi 6-1, 6-1.

Boys U-15 (final):

Zuhair Raza bt Sunny Williams 6-3, 6-4.

Boys U-13 (final):

Mustafa Zaidi bt Adil Kohari 7-5, 7-5.

Boys U-11 (final):

Khwaja Hamza bt Imran Mooraj 6-3, 6-0.

Fixtures for Friday:

Boys U-9(final): Khwaja Hamza v Imran Mooraj at 4.30pm.