Arham continues giant-killing run to set up Aqeel clash

Published May 13, 2016
ISLAMABAD: Aqeel Khan in action during the Subh-e-Nau tennis championship at the PTF Complex on Thursday.—INP
ISLAMABAD: Aqeel Khan in action during the Subh-e-Nau tennis championship at the PTF Complex on Thursday.—INP

ISLAMABAD: Unseeded Arham Atique continued his giant-killing run at the Subh-e-Nau clay court tennis championships when he outclassed seventh seed Usman Rafiq 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in their men’s singles quarter-final on Thursday.

Having ousted third-seeded Yasir Khan in the second round here at the PTF Complex, Arham will next face top-ranked Aqeel Khan for a place in the final.

Aqeel advanced to the semi-finals when he ended the challenge of Mudassar Murtaza with a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Fourth seed Shehzad Khan avoided a major scare against eighth-seeded Mohammad Muzammil when he recovered from a set down to win 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4 and set up a last-four clash against Mohammad Abid, who needed a first set tie-break to overcome Heera Ashiq 7-6 (7-1), 7-4.

Arham’s younger brother Aman Atique, meanwhile, booked his berth in the semi-finals of the Boys’ U-18 singles event after crusing past Aquib Umar 6-2, 6-0.

Aman was joined in the last four by Syed Nofil Kaleem, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 winner over Yousuf Khan, and Muzammil Murtaza, who eased past Saquib Umar 6-3, 6-2.

The top two seeds in the ladies singles event, Sarah Mahboob and Sara Mansoor, also booked their spots in the last four.

Sarah thrashed Yasha Atique 6-0, 6-1 while Sara had a double bagel win over Ihsa Jawed. The duo were joined in the semis by Meheq Khokhar — who beat Shahida Badshah 6-3, 6-0 — and Ushna Sohail, who hammered Maheen Khan 6-0, 6-0.

Results:

Men’s singles (quarter-finals): Aqeel Khan bt, MudassarMurtaza 6-4, 6-4; Arham Atique bt Usman Rafique 6-1, 7-6 (7-4); Shehzad Khan bt Muzammil Murtaza 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4; Mohammad Abid bt Heera Ashiq 7-6 (7-1), 7-4.

Boys U-18 singles (quarter-finals): Muzammil Murtaza bt Saquib Umar 6-3, 6-2; Aman Atique bt Aquib Umar 6-2, 6-0; Syed Nofil Kaleem bt Yousuf Khan 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

Men’s doubles (first round): Aqeel Khan/HeeraAshiq bt Abdal Haider/Babar Ali Akbar 6-1, 6-4; Yasir Khan/Shehzad Khan bt Ijaz Khan/Abbas 6-3, 6-4; Mohammad Abid/Usman Rafique bt Irfanullah/Shaheen Mahmood 6-2, 6-2; Mohammad Mudassar/Mohammad Muzammil bt Rasheed Malik/Hameed-ul-Haq 6-4, 6-3.

Boys U-14 singles (quarter-finals): Shoaib Khan bt Abdullah Adnan 4-2, 4-1; Aquib Umar bt Mohammad Abdullah 4-2, 4-2; Sami Zeb bt Ahmed Kamil 1-4, 4-2, 4-1; Hamza bin Rehan bt Subhan bin Salik 5-3, 4-0.

Ladies’ singles (first round): Maheen Khan bt Aman Nadeem 6-4, 6-1; Yasha Atique bt Shahida Farooq 3-2 — Shahida retired; Shahida Badshah bt Nawal Imtiaz — walkover.

Ladies’ singles (quarter-finals): Sarah Mahboob bt YashaAtique 6-0, 6-1; Meheq Khokhar bt ShahidaBadshah 6-3, 6-0; Sara Mansoor bt Ihsa Jawad 6-0, 6-0, Ushna Sohail defeated Maheen Khan 6-0, 6-0.

Boys’ U-10 singles (quarter-finals): Hamza Roman bt Jamal Shah — walkover; Umar Masood bt Uzair bin Abbas 5-4, 5-3; M. Huzaifa Khan bt Muhammad Irtaza 4-0, 4-0; Hameed Israr bt M. Talha Khan 5-4, 4-1.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

X post facto
Updated 19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

Our decision-makers should realise the harm they are causing.
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...
IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...