ISLAMABAD: Shahzad Khan, Aman Atiq Khan, Arham Atiq Khan and Zaid Mujahid qualified for the main draw of Askari Bank Syed Tajammul Abbas Memorial ATT Pakistan Tour by winning qualifying final round matches here at the Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Thursday.

In the qualifying round match, Atiq beat Adnan Rashid Khan 6-0, 6-1 while Arham thumped Mohammad Usman Ejaz 7-5, 6-0 with Faizan Khurram beating Kashan-ul-Haq 6-2,6-0.

In the final qualifying round, Shahzad Khan beat Faizan Khurram 6-1, 6-3 while Aman outplayed Ilham Khan 6-0, 6-0without conceding a single game in both set.

Arham won his qualifying final round match against Musa Chaudhry without any resistance with score being 6-1, 6-2. In the last match of final round of qualifying matches, Zaid Mujahid beat Ahmed Murad 6-2, 6-0.

The main draw matches will start on Friday in which 16 players will be seen in action. Top-ranking player Aqeel Khan will face Sahibzada Mohammad Ali while Mohammad Abid will take on Arham with Ahmed Chaudhry facing Aman.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) officials was held on the sidelines of the tournament at PTF Tennis Complex under the chairmanship of PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan. The meeting was attended by PTF senior vice-president Khawar Hyat Khan and secretary Mohammad Khalid Rehmani among others.

It was decided during the meeting that PTF will introduce ‘Lobbing Love – PTF Tennis 10’ National Ranking tournaments to take game to young age groups of six-plus years.

The events would be played in 10 and under age group on full court while eight and under as well as six and under age group matches will be played on mini-courts.

According to the PTF, modified soft balls will be used for all three events. Coaching of young players will be sponsored by Lobbing Love.

It was further decided in the meeting that PTF/STA/PLTA will appoint regional junior tennis initiative coordinators in Karachi and Lahore to expand the programme activities in these two cities.

The PTF will organize yellow badge national umpiring course in the coming months to train young umpires.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016