KARACHI, Sept 8: Huzaifa Mustafa struggled to beat Hammad Aslam in five sets to advance into the next round of cadet boys’ singles in the 35th Karachi Table Tennis Championship which got underway at Islamia Club on Friday amidst encouraging crowd turnout.

Huzaifa scampered home 11-3, 7-11, 11-13, 8-11, 11-3 in the only match that went full distance.

Mustafa Jamali was also through to the next stage after registering 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 win against Ansar Mehboob.

Approximately 200 contestants defied light showers to reach the venue for their matches as organisers deferred the formal opening for Saturday.

The educational institutions which have responded to the event on a short notice include Beacon House, The City School, Happy Home School; Shah Wilayat Academy, Agha Khan School, Nasra School, St. Pat’s School; Habib Public School, Greenwich University, Ziauddin Medical University; Textile Institute of Pakistan, Educational Club (former NED students) besides local clubs and corporate teams.

Results:

(Cadet U-15 boys singles first round)

M. Ahmed Aslam bt Agha Fateh 11-3, 11-4, 11-9; Haider Ali bt Nabeel Raza 11-2, 11-7, 11-5; Ahmed bt Daniyal Mazher 11-6, 11-7, 11-7; Hasan Tariq bt Reyaan 13-11, 11-8, 11-7; Shaheer Bin Arif bt Harmain Fazli 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9; Ali Asgher bt Hassan Mehmood 11-4, 12-10, 11-7; Azher Qureshi bt Beeba Ejaz 11-7, 13-11, 13-15, 11-16; Ansab Chapsi bt Shahbaz Ansari 11-6, 11-0, 11-0; Rafay Mehmood bt Zain Alam 11-9, 11-5, 11-3; Asad Asgher bt Fahim 11-8, 11-8, 11-8; Mustafa Jamali bt Ansar Mehboob 11-7, 11-5, 11-6; Huzaifa Mustafa bt M. Hammad Aslam 11-3, 7-11, 11-13, 8-11, 11-3; S. Arsalan Ali bt Talah Maqsood 11-4, 11-4, 11-3; S. M. Raza Abbas bt Raza Abbas 11-4, 11-5, 11-8; Ayaz Khan bt Salman Anwar 13-11, 14-12, 13-11.

Saturday’s fixtures: Cadet U-15 boys and girls singles 2.00pm; juniors U-18 boys and girls singles 3.00pm; men’s team event 7.00pm.

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