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KARACHI, May 17: Veterans ruled the roost on the opening day of the Greener Pakistan National hard court championship organised by Subh-e-Nau, on Tuesday at the Karachi Gymkhana. In the men’s qualifying round, the Pakistan under-15 champion Nasir Mushtaq took on former Pakistan No.8 Gul Hameed who is 33 years his senior.
Attacking from the word go Nasir, a youngster of immense talent, swept through the first set 6-1, with fine double handed forehand and backhand cross court smashes.
But Gul biding his time wore down his young opponent with long rallies and taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-1, moved ahead after a three set victory.
Hameedul Haq a former Davis Cup star beat young lefthander Adnan Khan also in three sets in the first round of the men’s singles. Adnan attacking from the front surprised Hameed 3-6.
But using his vast experience for good measure, Hameed swept through the next two sets 6-1, 6-2 to move into the second round. Then Tanveer Ashiq, the second seed in the Juniors event went down 6-0, 6-2 to another former Davis cupper Khalid Siddiq 6-0, 6-2.
However, Tanveer’s brother Muneer booked his berth into the second round.
Winning a first tense first set 7-5, Muneer was awarded the match after his opponent M. Baber retired with a severe bout of cramps. Pakistan No.3 Asim Shafiq beat Tanveer Muneer 6-2, 6-0 and the Pakistan Davis Cup non playing captain Rasheed Malik, was all at ease moving past Irfanullah (PAF) 6-2, 6-2.
In two other matches played in the first round of the men’s singles event, bespectacled Khalid Ali Nazir from the Karachi Gymkhana beat Lahore’s Fahad Ali 6-2, 6-2, while Sahiwal’s M. Shafiq had to work hard in overcoming Shahid Afridi 6-4, 6-2.
Earlier, in the men’s qualifying rounds, Nasir Mushtaq beat Waheed 6-1, 6-4.
Gul Hameed had little difficulty in getting the better of Salman Ahmed 6-1, 6-1.
Jahanzaib from Peshawar had to work up a sweat while overcoming Kashif Perozani 6-4, 6-4.
Abbas Raza beat Faisal Mir 6-2, 6-1 and Manzar swept past Milan 6-0, 6-0.
In the boys under-17 event, Ghulam Abbas Panju had to bring out his very best in disposing off Anil Das 7-5, 5-3 and young Abbas Asif had a much easier time in reaching the next round 6-1, 6-0.
Results:
Men’s singles (qualifying rounds): Gul Hameed bt Salman Ahmed 6-1, 6-1. Nasir Mushtaq bt Waheed 6-1, 6-1. Manzar beat Milan 6-0, 6-0. Abbas Reza bt Faisal Mir 6-2, 6-3. Jahanzaib (Peshawar) bt Kashif Perozani 6-4, 6-4. Gul Hameed beat Nasir Mushtaq 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Men’s singles (first round): Asim Shafiq bt Tanveer Muneer 6-2, 6-0. Muneer Ashiq bt M.Baber (7-5) retired. Rasheed Malik bt Irfanullah (PAF) 6-2, 6-2. M. Khalid Siddiq bt Tanveer Ashiq 6-0, 6-2. Khalid Ali Nazir bt Fahad Ali (Lahore) 6-2, 6-2. Hameedul Haq bt Adnan Khan 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. M. Shafiq (Sahiwal) bt Shahid Afridi 6-4, 6-2.
Junior boys under-17: Ghulam Abbas Punjoo bt Anil Das 7-5, 6-3. Abbas Asif Panjoo beat Anil Das 7-5, 6-3. Abbas Arif bt Irfan Kaker 6-1, 6-0.
Wednesday’s fixtures: At 10.00 a.m. Juniors under17 and under 13. At 11.00 a.m. men’s singles. At 3.00. p.m. ladies singles.
