KARACHI: Continuing his unbeaten run, Islamabad’s Nofil Kaleem swept aside his low-profile opponents to cruise into the semi-finals in two categories of the Essa Lab Open tennis championship at the Karachi Club here on Sunday.

Currently ranked sixth in under-18 national rankings, he inflicted a crushing 6-0, 6-2 victory over Taha Bandeali in the second round and whipped M. Raza Sawani 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-final to sneak into under-18 singles last four.

The organisers have quietly revised the under-18 draws including Ilham Khan at the expense of bottom seed Abdal Haider who has not shown up from upcountry. The latter was also seeded second in under-16.

In the under-16 singles, Nofil ruthlessly beat local player Shabbir Mohammad 6-0, 6-2 to become the first player to enter the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Jalaluddin Babar, Bilal Imran and Sahibzada Mohammad Ali were through to the under-14 singles semi-finals by winning their respective second round fixtures.

Results:

Under-18 singles:

Second round: Marib Malik bt Jalaluddin Babar (Mirpurkhas) 6-1 — Jalaluddin retired; Nofil Kaleem (Islamabad ) bt Taha Bandeali 6-0, 6-2; Ilham Khan bt Ebad Sarwar Hussain 6-3, 6-1.

Quarter-finals: Nofil Kaleem (Islamabad) bt M Raza Sawani 6-2, 6-3.

Under-16 singles:

First round: Mujahidullah bt Nadir (Hyderabad) — walkover.

Second round: Marib Malik bt Nazif Ahmed 6-3, 1-0 — Nazif retired.

.Quarter-finals: Nofil Kaleem bt Shabbir Mohammad 6-0, 6-2.

Under-14 singles:

Second round: Rayan Jawwad bt Jay Kumar 4-6, 6-2, 11-9; Rayan Imran bt Amin Shafi 6-1, 6-2.

Quarter-finals: Jalaluddin Babar bt Rayan Jawaad 5-7, 6-0, 10,2; Bilal Imran bt Shazil Malik 6-2, 6-2; Sahibzada Mohammad Ali bt Nouman Aftab 6-2, 6-2.

Under-12 singles:

Quarter-finals: Dada bt Waqas Bhutto 8-1; Rayyan Jawad bt Abdullah Khan 8-3; Amin Shafi bt Ghufran 8-1.

Men’s singles:

Second round: Farhan Altaf bt Kamran 6-0, 6-1.

Quarter-finals: Imran Shaukat (Multan) bt Syed Yawar Abbas 6-1, 6-1; Talha Zubair Surmawala bt Vinod Das 6-7 (5-7) 6-2, 10-4; M Manzar bt Abdullah Khan 6-2, 6-2.

Monday’s fixtures:

Matches start from 10:00am onwards.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan puzzle
Updated 28 May, 2024

Afghan puzzle

Unless these elements are neutralised, it will not be possible to have the upper hand over terrorist groups.
Attacking minorities
28 May, 2024

Attacking minorities

WHILE Pakistan has watched many perish in the cauldron of sacrilege, the state has done little to turn down the...
Persistent scourge
28 May, 2024

Persistent scourge

THE challenge of polio in Pakistan has reached a new nadir, drawing grave concerns from the Technical Advisory Group...
Mercury rising
Updated 27 May, 2024

Mercury rising

Each of the country's leaders is equally responsible for the deep pit Pakistan seems to have fallen into.
Antibiotic overuse
27 May, 2024

Antibiotic overuse

ANTIMICROBIAL resistance is an escalating crisis claiming some 700,000 lives annually in Pakistan. It is the third...
World Cup team
27 May, 2024

World Cup team

PAKISTAN waited until the very end to name their T20 World Cup squad. Even then, there was last-minute drama. Four...