ASHGABAT: Pakistan’s Sara Khan and Ushna Suhail were ousted in the first round of the women’s singles tennis event in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at ITF Tennis Club Courts on Tuesday.

Sara lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to Samoan Steffi Carruthers while Chinese Taipei’s Wang Chao Yi brought an end to Ushna’s campaign beating her by 8-10(6-6) ,6-2 ,6-0.

On Monday night, Pakistan’s medal hope Mehboob Ali was disqualified from the 400m final despite topping times in his semi-final heat.

Mehboob had won his semi-final in 47.73 seconds, ahead of Indian Amoj Jacob (47.94) and Oman’s Ahmed al Saadi (49.50) and with the top two from three semi-finals advancing to the gold medal race, he was nailed in as one of the favourites.

However, the organisers disqualified him for lane infringement despite appeals launched by Pakistani officials.

“Of course it is a loss for Pakistan because he was a medal hope,” Athletics Federation of Pakistan president retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi said. “However, one has to be truthful all the time and follow the rules. This will serve as a good lesson for Mehboob in the future.”

Mehboob, who competed in the same event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had also won his heat by clocking 48.63 seconds.

Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar claimed bronze in traditional wrestling earlier on Monday after he lost the -57kg semi-final to Turkmenistan’s Allanur Gocow, who won the gold medal.

Saeed’s medal took Pakistan’s tally to eight with one gold, two silvers and five bronze.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017