LAHORE: Veteran Aqeel Khan defeated Barkatullah to set up the Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad Memorial National Ranking Tennis Championship final against Mohammad Shoaib here at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Courts, Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Friday.
The 44-year-old Aqeel justified his top seeding as he cruised past Barkatullah 6-4, 6-2 while Shoaib also had a comfortable outing against Muzammil Murtaza 6-3, 6-1 in the other semi-final.
Barkatullah later made amends in the doubles final when he partnered with Yousaf Khalil to beat the duo of Mohammad Abid and Abdullah Adnan 7-6(3), 6-3.
Meanwhile in the women’s last-four fixtures, Ushna Sohail, 31, outclassed Amna Ali Qayyum 6-1, 6-2 while it took Zunaisha three sets to oust Sheeza Sajid 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
Zunaisha will compete for another title in the Under-18 category where she will vie for honours against Amna Ali.
Zunaisha routed Mahrukh Sajid 6-2, 6-1 in the first semi-final while Amna prevailed over Hajra Sohail with an identical score in the other last-four fixture.
Results (semi-finals):
Boys’ U-18 : Abubakar Talha bt Bilal Asim 6-2, 6-3; Shehryar Anees bt Ahtesham Humayon 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
Boys’ U-14: Junaid Khan bt Rashid Ali 6-3, 7-6(2); Shayan Afridi bt Abdur Rehman 6-3, 6-3
Girls’ U-14: Hajra Sohail bt Esha Rabbi 4-0, 4-0; Bismal Zia bt Khadija Khalil 4-0, 4-2
Boys’ U-12: Rashid Ali bt M Ayan 6-2, 6-4; Shayan Afridi bt M Muaz 6-1, 6-1
Boys’ U-18 doubles: Ahtesham Humayun/M Salar bt Nabeel Ali/Abdul Basit 6-2, 6-1; Abubakar Talha/Hamza Roman beat M Yahya/ Amir Mazari 6-2, 6-1.
Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024
