August 22, 2006	Tuesday	Rajab 26, 1427

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KARACHI, Aug 21: Five Pakistanis were among 16 who stepped into the boys’ singles second round as fourth seed was knocked out of the ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking tennis championship which commenced at the Islamabad Club on Monday.

Also making the next grade were seven Indians, two Sri Lankans and one each from Thailand and the US.

Indian qualifier Mansingh Athare pulled off a major upset when he got the better of compatriot Belwal Rahul 6-2, 6-3.

Top seed Krittanu Puthong (Thailand) and second seed Ryan Cheung (USA) won their first round matches in contrasting styles. While the former struggled to beat qualifier Krishik Divakar (India) 6-4, 7-6 (1), the latter conceded just one points to register 6-0, 6-1 win over qualifier Kreangkrai Prajouabphansri (Thailand) 6-0, 6-1.

Pakistan’s third seed Omer Babar accounted for Indian Dhruv Gupta 6-4, 6-4 to join the fray.

The four other home players who propelled in second round were qualifier Waqas Malik, Yasir Khan, Tanveer Ashiq and Khurram Nazir.

Pakistan’s Sarah Mahboob who has leaped to 1543 ranking in the world squeezed past Indian Richa Valechha 6-4, 6-3 to advance into the next round as her fellow countrywomen Annosha Aslam and Saba Aziz made exit.

Results:

Boys singles (first round):

Krittanu Puthong (Thai) bt Krishik Divakar (Ind) 6-4, 7-6 (1); Shiva Sangwan (Ind) bt Heera Ashiq (Pak) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Chandril Sood (Ind) bt Prithiv Sugumar (Ind) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3; Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SL) bt Syed Zuhair Raza (Pak) 6-3,6-1; Mansingh Athare (Ind) bt Belwal Rahul (Ind) 6-2, 6-3; Guyanga Weerasekera (SL) bt Danish Ahmed (Pak) 6-4, 6-1; M. Waqas Malik (Pak) bt Usman Ejaz Yousaf (Pak) 4-6, 7-6 (10), 6-1; Yasir Khan (Pak) bt Shaan Bukhari (USA) 6-3, 7-5; Tanveer Ashiq (Pak) bt Nouman-ul-Haq (Pak) 6-0, 6-0; Lakshit Sood (Ind) bt Abid Ali (Pak) 5-7, 6-0, 6-3; Ronak Mahesh Manuja (Ind) bt Kenneth Low (Sin) 6-2, 6-3; Omer Babar (Pak) bt Dhruv Gupta (Ind) 6-4, 6-4; Akshay Kohli (Ind) bt Debendra Das (Ind) 6-3, 6-3; Khurram Nazir (Pak) bt Nasir Mushtaq (Pak) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; Visesh Deepak Bhatia (Ind) bt Syed Abbas Raza (Pak) 6-0, 6-1; Ryan Cheung (USA) bt Kreangkrai Prajouabphansri (Thai) 6-0, 6-1.

Girls singles (first round):

Saana Saarteinen (Fin) bt Anoosha Aslam (Pak) 6-3, 6-2; Mohana Chintala (Ind) bt Saba Aziz (Pak) 6-1, 6-0; Sarah Mahboob (Pak) bt Richa Valechha (Ind) 6-4, 6-3.

Tuesday’s fixtures:

Second round matches 10.00am.