KARACHI, Aug 29: Pakistan's top ranked Aqeel Khan was on Sunday named top seed for International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters tennis championship which starts at 1.30 pm at Karachi Gymkhana hard courts on Monday.

Karachi-born Aqeel climbed to the top rank after winning two ITF Satellite events in Islamabad and Lahore. The draws were taken out at Karachi Gymkhana under supervision of ITF silver badge referee from India Puneet Gupta.

Japan's Sakai Toshiaki is seeded second, Mirko Pehar (USA) third, Shokeen Vivek (India) fourth, Sanna Tommmaso (Italy) fifth, Wellenfield Enrico (Italy) sixth, Nomi Qamar (Pakistan) seventh and Cheong-Eui Kim (South Korea) eighth.

All the eight seeded players have been given byes in the first round in 24-player singles championship. Three other unseeded Pakistanis Shahzad Khan, Wasif Cheema and Asim Shafik will be in action in their first round matches. -APP