KARACHI: Country’s top player Aqeel Khan survived a scare by overcoming fighting Yasir Khan in three set duel to land the men’s singles crown in the Modern Club Founder Members National Ranking Tennis Championship which concluded at the club’s court on Saturday.

Aqeel, who won the opener 6-2 faced a tough resistance before going down 3-6 in the next as Yasir draw level. The two players fought neck-and-neck in the third and decisive set as Aqeel prevail 7-5 to win the battle.

But Nauman Aftab turned out to be the pick of the event by capturing a double crown beating same opponent in two separate finals. First, he inflicted straight 7-5, 6-4 defeat on Amin Shafi to seize under-16 title and later struggled to rout Amin again 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 to earn the under-14 crown.

Houd Azhar won the under-12 title defeating Mohammad Yayha 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the final.

Aqeel earned men’s singles winning purse of Rs50,000 while Yasir took home runner-up purse of Rs28,000. Cash prizes worth Rs 3,00,000 were disbursed among players.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Salim Saifullah, who has specially come from Islamabad to grace the occasion, gave away the prizes.

Final results

Men’s singles: Aqeel Khan bt Yasir Khan 6-2, 3-6, 7-5

Boys under-16 singles: Nauman Aftab bt Amin Shafi 7-5, 6-4

Boys under-14 singles: Nauman Aftab bt Amin Shafi 7-5, 2-6, 7-5

Boys under-12 singles: Houd Azhar bt Mohammad Yayha 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.—Sports Correspondent

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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