ISLAMABAD: Experienced Aqeel Khan faced resistance from Sami Zeb before winning an exciting three-set clash to reach the third round of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championship here at the Islamabad Tennis Complex on Wednesday.

After Aqeel comfortably won the first set, Semi broke the serve initially in the second set to claim it 6-4. In the decisive third set, however, Aqeel used his experience to seize it 6-2 and the match.

In other men’s singles second-round matches, Mohammad Abid crushed Hasheesh Kumar 6-3, 6-1; Muzammil Murtaza beat Waqas Malik 6-1, 6-2 while Mudassir Murtaza was declared a 6-1, 4-0 winner against Talha Khan when the latter retired hurt.

In men’s doubles, Aqeel and Shehzad Khan outclassed the duo of Hasheesh Kumar and Muhammad Zaryab 6-2, 6-3 while Sami partnering Ahmed Nael defeated Mahatir Mohammad and Uzaima Abdul Rehman 7-5, 6-2.

Similarly, the pair of Mohammad Abid and Waqas Malik overwhelmed Uzair Khan and Israr Gul 6-2, 6-2; Hamza Roman and Bilal Asim outclassed Hamid Israr and Talha Khan 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile, the matches of U-18, U-14, U-12 and U-10 categories were also held.

Results:

U-18 boys’ singles (second round): Bilal Asim bt Muzammil Bhand 6-0, 6-0; Hamza Roman bt Ibrahim Saqib 6-1, 6-0; Asad Zaman bt Rayan Khan 6-3, 6-2; Mahatir Mohammad bt Uzair Khan 7-5, 6-2; Ehtisham Humayun bt Abdul Basit 6-0, 6-1; Ahmed Nael bt Ali Zain 6-2, 6-2; Mohammad Salar bt Mohammad Uzair Khan 6-1, 6-3; Mohammad Hamza Asim bt Huzaima Adbul Rehman 6-4, 6-1

U-14 boys’ singles (second round): Hassan Usmani bt Uzair Khan 4-2, 5-3; Rohab Faisal bt Mohammad Arsalan 4-0, 4-0; Mohammad Yahya bt Mohammad Junaid Khan 5-4(4), 5-4(5); Muzammil Bhand bt Junaid Mehr 4-0, 4-2; Haziq Areejo bt Waqas Janas 5-3, 4-2; Haziq Asim bt Zohaib Amjid 4-0, 4-2; Nabeel Ali Qayum bt Essa Fahd 4-0, 4-0; Mahd Shezad bt Raziq Sultan 4-0, 1-4, 4-2

U-12 boys’ singles (first round): Majid Ali Bachani bt Azan Imran 4-0, 4-0; Zayed Zaman bt Mohib Memoon 4-2, 4-0; Arsh Imran bt Junaid Khan 2-4, 5-4(5), 5-4(5); Ibrahim Gil bt Ihsan Bari 4-0, 4-0; Mohammad Faizan bt Wadan Amin 4-0, 4-0; Raziq Sultan bt Amir Masoo 4-0, 4-0; Insarullah bt Anaya Khan 4-0, 4-0; Ahmed Hussain bt Qasim-ul-Khair 4-0, 4-1; Ayesha Masood bt Umer Zaman 4-0, 4-0; Behroze Memoon bt Adam Raja 4-1, 4-0; Abdul Wasay bt Zohaib Amjid 4-2, 4-1

U-10 Boys (first round): Qasim ul Khair bt Azan Imran 1-4, 4-0, 4-2; Ali Nasir bt Zara Aidrus 4-2, 4-1.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023