KARACHI: Brilliant Nauman Aftab won both U-18 singles and U-16 singles titles here on Friday by beating Zubair Raja in both events finals in the inaugural Beconhouse Open National Senior and Junior Tennis Championship at Karachi Gymkhana.

In the under-18 singles final, Nauman was leading 6-2, 3-0 but his opponent Zubair retired from the match, giving Nauman an easy title triumph. Zubair also retired from the under-16 final after Nauman had taken a 5-2 lead.

In the under-14 semi-final encounter, young Rayyan Jawwad was taken to full distance by Mahatir Muhammad before he recorded a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 victory.

In an under-12 singles semi-final match, Taha Aman thrashed Nadir Mirza 8-1. Nadir Ahmed played in under-10 singles semi-final encounter beating Daniyal Hasan 8-1.

In the girls under-18 quarterfinals, Hania Navid defeated Jharna 8-3 while Zoha defeated Anita 8-4 and Rosable beat Nabiha also 8-4.

In the 45-plus singles semi-finals, Mohammad Abdul Saeed defeated Razi Nawab 6-1, 6-0 while Kilam Ghanchi recovered from a set down to beat Karim Gul Agha 5-7, 7-5, 10-3 in a thrilling encounter.

Meanwhile, Secretary Sports, Government of Sindh, Niaz Ali Abbasi graciously consented to be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the tournament on Saturday.

Earlier on Thursday, Nauman had outclassed Noor-e-Mustafa 6-0,6-0 in the first semi-final while Zubair Raja had overcome stiff challenge from Hassan Farooq to win 6-4, 6-1 in the other semi-final.

In the under-18 doubles semi-final, Hassan Farooq and Hashesh Kumer beat Hasnian and Sadat 6-2, 6-2.

In the soft tennis doubles final, Robin Das and Kamran Ahmed beat Eibad Sarwar Khan and Usama Saeed 5-0.

In the soft tennis singles final, Eibad Sarwar beat Robin Das 5-1.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2017