KARACHI, May 3: Top seed Karim Gul Agha in the 35 plus category and fourth seed Khwaja Masroor in the plus 45 category, moved into the next round when the first Bilal Brothers national seniors tennis championship got under way at the Karachi Gymkhana on Tuesday evening. Karim had a fight on his hands in the first set before he overcame Iltifat 6-4, then cashing in on his powerful forehand cross court smashes, won the next set and match 6-2.

Khwaja Masroor on the other hand had a fairly easier tussle against A. Rashid, who tried his very best to stem the tide before going down 6-1, 6-2. In another match in the 35 plus category, Akhtar Aliman received a walkover against A.R. Pasha, who failed to turn up at the playing venue.

In a keen encounter between two lefthanders Fawad Ejaz after trailing 1-3, fought back magnificently to take the first set 6-4 against Saleem, but was trailing 1-4 in the second before a heavy drizzle forced the players off the court.

At the time of going to the press, second seed Akbar Hayat Khan was leading Mushtaq Ahmed 6-1, 1-2 in the 45 plus category.

Humuyan Zaffar was top seeded in the plus 45 category, with Akbar Hayat Khan at No.2, Karim Gul Agha at No.3 and Khawja Masroor at No.4 In the plus 35, Karim Gul Agha is top seeded with A. Rashid at No.2. The championship has attracted 50 entries to pick up the spoils in four events.

Earlier the championship was declared open by Syed Ghyasuddin, Sports Convenor Karachi Gymkhana.

On Wednesday the doubles will be played in the plus 45 and plus 35 categories from 6.00 p.m. with the continuation of the overnight singles matches to be played at 7.00 p.m.

Following were the results.

Men’s singles + 45 (First round)

Khawja Masroor beat A. Rashid 6-2, 6-2. Akbar Hayat Khan was leading Mushtaq Ahmed 6-1, 1-2. Fawad Ejaz was leading Saleem 6-4, 1-4.

Men’s singles + 35 (First round)

Karim Gul Agha beat Iltifat 6-4, 6-2. Akhter Aliman w/o A.R. Pasha.