August 26, 2006	Saturday	Sha'aban 1, 1427

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KARACHI, Aug 25: Displaying highly creditable performance, promising Yasir Khan and Tanveer Ashiq toppled fancied players to cruise into boys’ singles final of the ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking tennis championship at clay courts of Islamabad Club on Friday.

Yasir squeezed past top seed Krittanu Puthong of Thailand 6-4, 6-4 while Tanveer got the better of Akshay Kholi of India 6-3, 6-4 to set an All-Pakistan final for the first time.

The pair of Prariyawat Ratanakrong (Thai) - Vishakha Sheoran (Ind) annexed the girls double title by having a 6-1, 6-1 shortwork of Parichart Charoensukployphol (Thai) - Saarteinen Saana (Finland) in the final.

Yasir and Krittanu hold their serves to be tied at 4-4 in the first set. The former however, managed to break his opponent’s serve in the ninth game and went on to win the opener 6-4.

Exhibiting powerful serves and passing shots, Yasir raced on to earn a commendable 4-1 lead in the second.

Krittanu then came back into the match breaking the sixth game but Yasir didn’t allow him a smooth passage and won 6-4. Krittanu received two warnings from the chair umpire Asif Ali for violations of racket abuse.

Playing aggressively Tanveer shot into 5-3 lead against Akshay and on his way to win the first set 6-3. After 2-2 in the second, Tanveer surged 5-3 and wrap up the set 6-4.

The final will be played on Sunday.

Meanwhile, qualifying round matches of boys’ singles of the second leg will commence Saturday.

Results:

Boys’ singles: (semi-finals): Yasir Khan (Pak) bt Krittanu Puthong (Thai) 6-4, 6-4; Tanveer Ashiq (Pak) bt Akshay Kholi (Ind) 6-3, 6-4.

Girls’ doubles: (final): Prariyawat Ratanakrong (Thai) - Vishakha Sheoran (Ind) bt Parichart Charoensukployphol (Thai) Saarteinen Saana (Fin) 6-1, 6-1.

Saturday’s fixtures: Boys’ singles (qualifying rounds) second leg 10.00am.