October 31, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 18, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 30: All Pakistan players made first-round exit from the Pakistan F2 Futures ITF men’s circuit tennis championship at the Cosmopolitan Club, Bagh-i-Jinnah on Tuesday.

Nomi Qamar, Jalil Khan, Asim Shafik, Tanveer Ashiq, Shahzad Khan and national champion Aqeel Khan tasted straight-set defeats as 16 matches were played in the singles category while the doubles event entered the semi-finals stage.

Players from almost 12 countries are taking part in the championship.

Aqeel lost to Morocco’s Kamil Filali 6-3, 6-2, Asim could resist little against Czech Republic’s Adam Velimelka 6-2, 6-4 while emerging Tanveer was overpowered by Chang Huei-en of Taiwan 6-2, 6-3.

Jalil went down to Godamanna Hershana of Sri Lanka 6-2, 6-4, Shahzad was retired hurt against India’s Yannick Nelord 6-4, 6-2, while Nomi was outclassed by Victor Bogdan of Romania 6-2, 6-4.

In the singles event, three matches stretched to three sets.

In one of those Vivek Shokeen of India ousted Shel Yakin of Uzbekistan 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2. The Indian, after losing the first set, grabbed the remaining two sets to enter the second round.

Kyle Brassington of Great Britain marched into the next round, defeating Germany’s Eddy Roy Ballummel 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. After earning a cakewalk victory in the first set, the Briton faltered in the next as Ballummel managed to make it 1-1. However, Brassington had the last laugh as he fought back to earn the victory in the third set and the match.

Mohammed Mohazebina of Iran carved out a win against Artem Isaev of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In the doubles, the pair of Morocco’s Kamil Filali and Jalil Khan entered the semi-finals defeating Victor Bogdan (Romania) and Adam Vejmelka (Czech Republic) 7-6 (7), 6-3.

Harshana Godamanna of Sri Lanka and Belgium’s B. Govaeirts outclassed the Alex Platevoet (Belgium)-Igor Shelyakin (Uzbekistan) pair 6-3, 7-5.Aqeel, Pakistan top seed, with India’s Sunil Kumar, struggled to beat the pair of Hsin-Han Lee-Peng Msien Yin (Taiwan) 7-6 (5), 7-5.

In the last doubles quarter-final, Divij Sharan and Ashutosh Singh romped home edging past Kyle Brassington-Andrew Fitzpatrick (Great Britain) 4-6, 6-3 (10-4).

Results:

Singles:

Adam Vejmelka (CZE) bt Asim Shafik (PAK) 6-2, 6-4; Harshanna Godamanna (SRI) bt Jalil Khan (PAK) 6-2, 6-4; Chang Huai (TAI) bt Tanveer Ashiq (PAK) 6-2, 6-3; Shokeen Vivek (IND) bt Igor Shelyakin (UZB) 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2; Sunil Kumar (IND) bt Gieb Alekseeniko (UKR) 7-6 (3), 7-5; YU Zheing (CHN) bt Alex Platevoet (BEL) 6-2, 6-4; Kyle Brassington (GBR) bt Eddy Ballummel (GER) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Kamil Filali (MOR) bt Aqeel Khan (PAK) 6-3, 6-2; Lim Hyun bt Ashutosh Singh (IND) 6-4, 7-6 (2); Yin Peng (TAI) bt Vadim Albkessiko (UKR) 7-5, 6-2; Mohammed Mohazebina (IRA) bt Artem Isaev (RUS) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Divij Sharan (IND) bt George Barth (US) 6-4, 6-4; Han Hsin Lee bt Vaja Uzakov (UZB) 6-3, 6-4; Ashwin Vijayragawan (IND) bt Kim Bo-Sung 6-4, 6-2; Yanmick Nelord (IND) bt Shahzad Khan (PAK) retired hurt; Victor Bogdon (ROM) bt Nomi Qamar (PAK) 6-2, 6-2.