July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

KARACHI July 24: Pakistan’s up and coming tennis players who are currently featuring in ITF juniors tournaments abroad have shown commendable performance by registering successive victories over their opponents.

Junior international Nasir Mushtaq, losing finalist of an ITF juniors’ singles event held at Karachi last year, chalked up two consecutive wins to reach quarter-finals in world ranking ITF juniors’ tournament in Amman, Jordan.

He fought tooth and nail to prevail over Turkey’s Direnc Bada in gruelling three set battle 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round. In the next, he whipped India’s Sammer Bhupal 6-4, 6-2 to make it to the last eight.

Nasir teamed up with Australian Michael Suyaguna to propel into the doubles semi-finals by getting the better of Christian Mohs (Germany) and Ryoto Tachi (Japan).

Pakistan had another delight when rising star Sara Mehboob toppled Indian Anushka Kapoor in straight sets to make it to the last eight in the girls’ singles of the same event.

She was home 6-2, 6-1 against an experienced player.

Earlier in the first round Sara struggled to overcome Ranim from Syria 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Pakistan’s Waqas Malik went down to Indian Mansingh Attari in the first round while Ali Zubair made exit in the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, another junior Nameer Shamsi returned home after attending a month long coaching at Chandigarh, India.

Both Nasir and Nameer will proceed to Islamabad next month to compete in three legs of ITF world ranking juniors’ tennis tournament being held there from Aug 11.

Nasir has been seeded second for the Islamabad event.