August 25, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 11, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 24: Pakistan’s highly promising Nasir Mushtaq on Friday inched closer towards claiming his maiden international title by imposing a straight win over the superior second seed Indian Chandril Sood in the boys’ singles semi-final of the ITF juniors ranking tennis tournament at the Karachi Club.

Nasir, who on Thursday breezed past Mandeep Yadav, kept his winning run intact and was home 6-3, 7-6 (4).

He is drawn to meet Thailand’s Nuttorn Tanchainant who whipped Sumeet Shinde (India) 6-2, 6-0 in the other pre-final. The boys’ singles final is scheduled for Sunday.

The girls’ singles final, to be played on Saturday, will be an All-Indian affair as the top two seeded players, Inayat Khosla and Soniya Dayal, lived up to their top billing.

Khosla accounted for Spanish fifth seed Carol Benito 6-2, 6-2 in the first semi-final, Dayal whipped compatriot Ratnika Batra 6-1, 6-4 in the other.

Ludhiana-born Chandril was the last seeded player who remained in contention for title until elimination as the others were knocked out one by one. His twin brother Lakshit, the fifth seed, went down to ninth seed Jugal Marfatia in the second round.

Fresh from his quarter-final triumph the other day, Nasir demonstrated yet another awesome display. He took a 1-0 lead taking the opener 6-3.

However, the two fought neck-and-neck in the second set and Nasir wrapped up 7-6 (4) after it went on a tie-breaker.

Tanchainant, on the other hand, won the second semi-final in contrasting fashion against Shinde.

The Sood brothers — Chandril and Lakshit — had some consolation when they stormed in the boys’ doubles final edging Thangarajah Dineshkanthan/M. Abid 6-2, 6-2.

Local players Yasir Khan and Tanveer Ashiq, who failed to come up to the mark in singles, also fought their way in the boys’ doubles final. The two overcame Gugan Varma/Nehal Kapoor 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the semis.

The girls’ doubles has also reached the final stage.

Meanwhile, four players — Murtaza Hyder, Malik Abdul Rehman, Sameer Iftikhar (Pakistan) and Michael Siya Aguna Sunil (Sri Lanka) — earned a spot in the two-day qualifying round of the second leg.

The local players have come through by winning their matches while the Lankan has got a wildcard.

The qualifying round begins at the Karachi Club on Saturday at 9.30am.

Results:

Boys singles semi-finals: Nasir Mushtaq (Pak) bt Chandril Sood (Ind) 6-3, 7-6 (4); Nuttorn Tanchainant (Thai) bt Sumeet Shinde (Ind) 6-2, 6-0.

Girls’ singles semi-finals: Inayat Khosla (Ind) bt Carol Benito (Spain) 6-2, 6-2; Soniya Dayal (Ind) bt Ratnika Batra (Ind) 6-1, 6-4.

Boys’ doubles semi-finals: Tanveer Ashiq/Yasir Khan bt Gugan Varma/Nehal Kapoor 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Lakshit Sood/Chandril Sood bt Thangarajah Dineshkanthan/M. Abid 6-2, 6-2.

Girls’ doubles semi-finals: Ratnika Batra/Carol Benito bt Ushna Suhail/Mehak Khokhar 6-0, 6-2; Soniya Dayal/Natasha Afridi bt Richa Valecha/Dipti Shrivastava 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Saturday’s fixtures:

Boys doubles final: (9.30am) Lakshit Sood/Chandril Sood v Tanveer Ashiq/Yasir Khan.

Girls singles final: (4.00pm) Inayat Khosla (Ind) v Soniya Dayal (Ind).