ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Maheen Qureshi, who paired with Chinese Taipei’s Yu Yun-Li to win the girls doubles on Thursday, is the last hope for Pakistan to clinch singles title as both Pakistan junior boys could not make it to the final of boys singles at tthe Syed Tajammul Abbas ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking Tennis Championships, being played here at PTF Tennis Complex.

Maheen, pairing with Yu Yun-Li, beat Turkey’s duo of Aksu Semra and Bilgic Sedef in the final 6-2, 6-1. A brilliant player, Maheen also cruised into the girls singles final after defeating Turkey’s Bilgic Sedef in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

However, both Pakistan juniors Huzafia Abdul Rehman and Saqib Hayat lost their matches without putting any serious resistance against Cheng Wei-Chen (Chinese Taipei) and second Seed Suresh Darrshan of Malaysia in the two semifinals respectively.

Pakistan is hosting the ITF juniors after a long gap of 10 years, but it was extremely surprising that the organizers of the event did not hold any training camps to prepare the juniors players for this competitive event, thus losing the opportunity to win back the title last won by Pakistan’s Samar Ifthikhar in Qatar back in 2008.

Unseeded Wei-Chen from Taipei, while continuing his winning streak defeated Huzafia in two sets. Both the players displayed excellent tennis and score went up to 5-5 all at one stage. However, Wei Chen won the first set at 7-5 by breaking 11th game of Huzafia by hitting two winners down the line.

He was in full command in the second set and won it at 6-1 by breaking 3rd and 5th game of Huzaifa.

In the other semifinal, second seed Suresh Darrshan of Malaysia registered straight sets win against Saqib Hayat by 6-2, 6-3.

Boys Singles final will be played on Saturday at 2:00pm.

Maheen Aftab (PAK) and Yu-Yun-Li (TPE) advanced in to the Girls Singles final by winning their respective matches in the semi finals in straight set.

Top seed Yu-Yun-Li from Taipei won her encounter against Aysegul Mert (TUR) in a well contested two set match 7-5, 6-2. While Maheen defeated Bilgic Sedef in straight two sets.

In the Boy’s Doubles, the pair of Mathew Yee (HKG) and Nouman Aftab (Pak) and Rattanan Siritaworchar (THA) & Suresh Darrshan (MAS) advanced into the final by winning their respective semi finals in straight set.

Boys doubles final will be played on Friday at 11:00am.

Results:

Boy’s Singles semis: Cheng Wei-Chen (TPE) beat Huzafia Abdul Rehman (PAK) 7-5, 6-1; Suresh Darrshan (MAS) beat Saqib Hayat (PAK) 6-2, 6-3.

Boy’s Doubles semis: Mathew Yee (HKG) & Muhammad Nouman Aftab (PAK) beat Chang Cameron Austin (USA) & Cheng Hsuni Lui (TPE) 6-2, 6-1; Rattanan Siritaworchar (THA) & Suresh Darrshan (MAS) beat Cheng Wei Chen (TPE) & Chou Wen Yi (TPE) 7-6(4), 7-5.

Girls Singles semis: Yu-Yun-Li (TPE) beat Mert Aysegul (TUR) 7-5, 6-2; Maheen Qureshi (PAK) beat Bilgic Sedef (TUR) 6-3, 6-4.

Girls Doubles final:

Maheen Qureshi (PAK) & Yu-Yun-Li (TPE) beat Aksu Semra (TUR) & Bilgic Sedef (TUR) 6-2, 6-1.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018