August 24, 2006	Thursday	Rajab 28, 1427

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KARACHI, Aug 23: Pakistan’s Yasir Khan and Tanveer Ashiq marched into the boys’ singles semi-finals of the ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking tennis championship at the Islamabad Club on Wednesday.

Yasir, the youngest of the Khan clan, gave a 6-4, 6-1 drubbing to Mansingh Athare of India while Tanveer humbled Ronak Manuja, also from India, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Joining the home players were top seed Krittanu Puthong (Thailand) who brushed aside Chandril Sood (India) in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 and qualifier Akshay Kohli (India) who thrashed compatriot Vishesh Bhatia 6-4 6-4. Yasir meets Puthong while Tanveer takes on Bhatia in the two semi-finals on Friday.

The pair of Yasir-Tanveer also eased into boys’ doubles last four beating Indian combination of Ronak Makesh Manuja-Krishik Divakar 6-4, 6-1. They are slated to meet fellow countrymen Omer Babar-Khurram Nazir in the pre-final on Thursday.

Results:

Boys’ singles: (quarter-finals)

Krittanu Puthong (Thai) bt Chandril Sood (Ind) 6-3, 6-1; Yasir Khan (Pak) bt Mansingh Athare (Ind) 7-6(6), 6-1; Tanveer Ashiq (Pak) bt Ronak Mahesh Manuja 7-6(5), 6-1; Akshay Kohli (Ind) bt Vishesh Deepak Bhatia (Ind) 6-4,6-4.

Boys’ doubles: (quarter-finals)

Ryan Cheung (US) - Krittanu Puthong (Thai) bt Akshay Kohli - Debendra Das (Ind) 7-6(5), 6-4; Belwal Rahul - Dhruv Gupta (Ind) bt M. Malik Waqas (Pak) - Dineshkanthan Thangarajah (SL) 7-6(2), 6-1; Yasir Khan - Tanveer Ashiq (Pak) bt Ronak Makesh Manuja - Krishik Divakar (Ind) 6-4, 6-1; Omer Babar - Khurram Nazir (Pak) bt Chandril Sood - Lakshit Sood (Ind) 7-6(5), 7-6(2).

Girls’ doubles: (quarter-finals)

Parichart Charoensukployphol (Thai) - Saana Saarteinen (Fin) bt Karina Ahuja - Richa Valechha (Ind) 6-0, 0-6, 7-6(2).

Thursday’s fixtures:

Boys’ doubles: (semi-finals) Yasir Khan - Tanveer Ashiq v Omer Babar - Khurram Nazir (Pak); Rahul Balwel - Gupta (Ind) v Krittanu Puthong (Thai) – Ryan Cheung (US) 10.00am

Girls’ singles: (semi-finals) Pracriyawat Ratanakrong v Karina Ahuja (Ind); Vishakha Sheoran (Ind) v Parichart Charoensukployphol (Thai) 10.00am girls doubles 2.00pm.