August 29, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 15, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 28: Two local players are among the eight who fought their way into the boys singles quarter-finals, thwarting their opponents’ challenge in the ITF juniors ranking tennis tournament (second leg) at the Karachi Club on Tuesday.

Nasir Mushtaq, runner-up of the previous leg, conjured up his second straight victory when he edged past Indian Kaza Sharma 6-4, 6-0. Sharma had toppled sixth seed Yasir Khan 6-2, 7-5 on Monday.

Similarly, third seed Tanveer Ashiq kept his chances alive ending pretensions of Thailand’s Wasin Wijaya 6-3, 6-2.

Thailand’s unseeded Nuttorn Tanchainant who claimed his career’s maiden title at the same venue on Sunday made a 6-3, 6-2 short work of home player Omer Babar while Sri Lankan Thanga Raja was home 7-5, 6-3 against Waqas Malik.

Joining the above players are the four Indians — Nehal Kapoor, twin Sood brothers (Chandril and Lakshit) and Gugan Varma.

Nehal accounted for Heera Ashiq 6-4, 6-4, while second seed Chandril dropped second set on way to register a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 win over M. Abid in three agonising sets.

Fifth seed Lakshit overcame Lankan Sunil Michael 6-4, 6-4, while Varma struggled to beat fighting Sumeet Shinde 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

In the girls’ events, the top four seeds had a smooth run as they brushed aside their opponents in straight sets to take themselves into the next stage.

Top seed Jithmie of Sri Lanka prevailed 6-0, 6-0 over Ushna. Second seed Inayat outpaced compatriot Richa 6-4, 6-1. Third seed Soniya beat Ratnika 6-4, 6-2, while fourth seed Sara routed Sindhura 6-0, 6-1.

The first round matches in the eboys’ doubles also commenced on Tuesday while the girls’ doubles matches are slated to start from Wednesday.

Results:

Boys’ singles pre quarter-finals: Nehal Kapoor (Ind) bt Heera Ashiq (Pak) 6-4, 6-4; Nuttorn Tanchainant (Thai) bt Omer Babar (Pak) 6-3, 6-2; Thanga Raja (Sri Lanka) bt Waqas Malik (Pak) 7-5, 6-3; Nasir Mushtaq (Pak) bt Kaza Sharma (Ind) 6-4, 6-0; Lakshit Sood (Ind) bt Sunil Michael (Sri Lanka) 6-4, 6-4; Tanveer Ashiq (Pak) bt Wasin Wijaya (Thai) 6-3, 6-2; Chadril Sood (Ind) bt M. Abid (Pak) 7-6, 6-7, 6-3; Gugan Varma (Ind) bt Sumeet Shinde (Ind) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Girls singles second round: Jithmie Jayawickrema (Sri Lanka) bt Ushna Suhail (Pak) 6-0, 6-0; Carol Benito (Spain) bt Mehreen Izhar (Pak) 6-1, 6-0; Soniya Dayal (Ind) bt Ratnika Batra (Ind) 6-4, 6-2; Inayat Khosla (Ind) bt Richa Valecha (Ind) 6-4, 6-1; Susita Das (Ind) bt Anoosha Aslam (Pak) 6-3, 6-4; Asha Mohan (Ind) bt Natasha Afridi (Pak) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4; Anushka Kapoor (Ind) bt Dipti Shrivastava (Ind) 7-5, 7-5; Sara Mahboob (Pak) bt Sindhura Polavarapu (Ind) 6-0, 6-1.

Boys’ doubles first round: Nuttorn Tanchainant/Dussadee Darakamas bt Khurram Nazir/Omer Babar 6-4, 5-7, 6-2; Mandeep Yadav/Gurmohit Singh bt Chandam Shaolin/ Wasin Wijaya 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; Nehal Kapoor/Gugan Varma bt Waqas Malik/Sadanul Haq 6-3, 6-4.

Wednesday’s fixtures: (9.00am)

Boys’ (quarter-finals); Girls (quarter-finals)

Boys’ doubles (first round) 2.00pm; Girls doubles (first round) 3.30pm.