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KARACHI: Pakistan’s top player Aqeel Khan, the undisputed king of the game in the country, maintained his ascendancy while walking away with the men’s singles title in the UBL international hardcourt tennis championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday.
He took little time to post 6-1, 6-0 victory over Lahore’s M. Abid Mushtaq in the title battle which, like other finals, turned out to be one-sided affair. The triumph helped Aqeel complete a triple crown his other two victories being men’s doubles with Yasir and mixed doubles with Saba.
“It was a good event, both in terms of prize money and participation, held after a long time in the city,” a jubilant Aqeel told Dawn soon after the triumph.
He was of full praise for the main sponsors, UBL, and hoped the financial institution will make the event a regular feature in future.
Abid, 18, was excited for playing his maiden men’s singles final against Aqeel after upsetting latter’s sibling Yasir Khan 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the pre-final. “Yes it was my major breakthrough as I’ll be stepping into men’s category from January,” he said.
Pakistan’s legendary player Aisam-ul-Haq, who specially came with his wife Faha and father Ehtisham from Lahore to grace the occasion, entertained the spectators by playing a one-set exhibition doubles.
The Aqeel and Abid Mushtaq duo beat the pair of Aisam and Usman Rafiq 6-4.
Aqeel received a winning purse of Rs 1,50,000 and winners trophy while Abid fetched Rs75,000 and runner-up trophy. The men’s singles winners purse shows an enhancement of Rs25,000 from the previous announcement.
Aqeel was also awarded a 30” LCD TV and two mobile sets while Aisam was presented 55” LCD TV and a mobile set from co-sponsors.
President of the UBL, Atif Riaz Bokhari and Aisam-ul-Haq jointly graced the prize distribution ceremony. Also present on the occasion were tournament director Khwaja Masroor, president of the Karachi Gymkhana, Ali Rahim, Hasan Raza and Arif Qureshi.
