March 2, 2006	Thursday	Safar 1, 1427

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KARACHI, March 1: Talented Yasir Khan was stretched to limits by fighting Nasir Mushtaq on his way to enter men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the Greener Pakistan National Hard Court tennis at the Karachi Gymkhana on Wednesday.

Yasir, youngest of the famous Khan clan who was sent by the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) to Taiwan as an observer with the Davis Cup team, struggled for two hour 25 minutes to overcome his opponent. He was home 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in the gruelling encounter.

He now faces Khalid Ali Nazar and the winner would proceed to the quarterfinals.

Playing his second match in a day Yasir accounted for Hassam Khan 6-0, 6-1 to thorough into the last eight of juniors U-17 singles.

Seeded players fought their way into the men’s singles quarterfinals after registering straight victories over their opponents.

Top seed and holder Aqeel Khan seized 6-2, 6-2 win over Danish Ahmed, second seed Asim Shafik got the better of Raja Asif 6-2, 6-3, third seed Nomi Qamar downed Sunny Williams 6-2, 6-1 while fourth seed Jalil Khan prevailed over Muteeb Pasha 6-3, 6-3.

Also joining them in the last eight were Adnan Khan, Inam Gul and M. Shafiq.

In juniors U-17 singles, Ahsan Bajwa had to rally hard in overcoming Hidayatullah 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in yet another interesting match that went to full distance.

Results:

Men’s singles (second round): Yasir Khan bt Nasir Mushtaq 6-7, 6-3, 7-6

Men’s singles (pre-quarterfinals): Adnan Khan bt Gul Hameed 6-4, 7-5; Nomi Qamar bt Sunny Williams 6-2, 6-1; Inam Gul bt Usman Ijaz 6-4, 6-0; Aqeel Khan bt Danish Ahmed 6-2, 6-2; Jalil Khan bt Muteeb Pasha 6-3, 6-3; M. Shafiq bt Mubashir Afridi 6-4, 6-1; Asim Shafik bt Raja Asif 6-2, 6-3.

Juniors U-17 singles (second round): S. Abbas Raza bt Anas Khan 6-2, 6-3; Nasir Mushtaq bt Sunny Williams 6-2, 6-1; Usman Ijaz bt Asif 6-0, 6-1; Yasir Khan bt Hassam Khan 6-0, 6-1; Ghulam Abbas bt Salman Ahmed 6-1, 6-0; Ahsan Bajwa bt Hidayatullah 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Zuhair Raza bt Manoj 6-2, 6-3; Jahangir Rashid bt Murtaza Haider 6-2, 6-4.

Boys U-13 (pre quarterfinals): Nameer Shamsi bt Talha 6-0, 6-0; Abdul Rehman bt Kashif 6-1, 6-1; Ramis Farishta bt Ammar 6-0, 6-1; Fahad bt Imran Khan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Thursday’s fixtures: Men’s singles quarterfinals: 10.00am

Matches of other categories to start at 1.00pm.