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Published 07 Jan, 2005 12:00am

Yasir grabs U-17 title, double crown for Nasir

KARACHI, Jan 6: Yasir Khan, the youngest brother of Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan, fought his way out of the jaws of defeat and pick up the Juniors under-17 singles crown , beating Danish Ahmed in three gruelling sets in the Sindh Open tennis championship played at the Modern Club on Thursday.

In a match packed with its full share of spills and thrills, bespectacled Danish broke Yasin's service and won a well fought out first set 6-4. Soon he was on the brink of winning the final, leading 5-1 in the next set with four service points in hand.

But with victory around the corner, Danish fell into a series of unforced errors, twice double faulting into the net while serving for the match. Yasir taking undue advantage of these costly lapses, slowly but surely clawed his way back into the game and was soon on even terms 5-5 in the second, only to see the bewildered Danish take advantage of his service to progress ahead 6-5.

However, his sigh of relief was short lived. Yasir was on an even keel once again 6-6 which forced the set into a tiebreaker, which went Yasir's way 7-5 enabling him to take Danish into the final third set.

Trying desperately hard to get back into the match Danish took the lead, but Yasir carrying on where he had left off in the second, continued to pile up the game points and emerged a worthy 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 winner.

Yasir now has a great chance of picking up a double crown. Teaming up with Danish in the Juniors under-17 doubles, the pair will take on Ali Asgher Bande Ali and Daniyal Alvi in the final to be played on Friday.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Nasir Mushtaq picked up a double crown for himself. After beating Jahangir Rashid in the Boys under-15 singles final 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday, he teaming up with Ghulam Abbas, pocketed the boys under-15 doubles event, accounting for Jahangir Rashid and Hassan Ahmed 7-6, 6-3 in a fiercly fought out encounter.

Earlier in the semi finals Jahangir and Hassan brushed aside Salman Ahmed and Adil Kohari 6-1, 6-2, while Nasir and Ghulam demolished Zuhair and Zain 6-1, 6-0. The boys under-13 title was bagged by Zuhair Raza who had to work hard in getting the better of Omer Shahid 6-2, 6-3.

In the Boys under-11 event, Adil Kohari seemed to have had an easier passage while beating Ehsan Shahid 6-0, 6-2. Brig. Tariq Sadozai and his partner Maqsood Ismail however, had the easiest passage into the final, after overwhelming Mohammad Hanif and Saeed Khan 6-0, 6-0, in the Seniors 45 Doubles.

Tariq was in full command of the situation with his forehand smashes, while his partner Maqsood played an excellent role close to the net. On the other hand Hanif and Saeed did try desperately hard to stem the tide with occasional brilliance, but their opponents were just too good for them, turning back good shots into winners. Following were the results on Wednesday.

JUNIOR BOYS UNDER-17 SINGLES (FINAL)

Yasir Khan bt Danish Ahmed 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

BOYS UNDER-13 SINGLES (FINAL)

Zuhair Raza bt Omer Shahid 6-2, 6-3

BOYS UNDER-11 SINGLES (FINAL)

Adil Kohari bt Ehsan Shahid 6-0, 6-2

BOYS UNDER-15 DOUBLES (SEMIFINALS)

Nasir Mushtaq/Ghulam Abbas bt Zuhair/Zain 6-1, 6-0

Jahangir Rashid/Hassan bt Salman Ahmed/Adil Kohri 6-2, 6-2.

BOYS UNDER-15 DOUBLES (FINAL) : Nasir Mushtaq & Ghulam Abbas beat Jahangir Rashid & Hassan Ahmed 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

FOLLOWING ARE THE FIXTURES FOR FRIDAY.

At 4.00 p.m.

MEN'S SINGLES (FINAL) : Aqeel Khan v/s Jalil Khan.

JUNIORS BOYS DOUBLES UNDER-17 (FINAL) : Yasir Khan & Danish Ahmed v/s Ali Asghar Bande Ali & Daniyal Alvi.

MEN'S SENIORS PLUS 45 DOUBLES (FINAL) : Brig. Tariq Sadozai & Maqsood Ismail v/s Zafer Hassan Khan & Azharuddin.

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