KARACHI: Pakistan’s number one player Aqeel Khan proved too good for his opponent Abid Mushtaq as he cruised to a fine 6-4, 6-2 win in the mens singles final of the 2nd EAM & SEM Memorial National Tennis Championship which concluded at the Karachi Gymkhana on Sunday.

In the ladies final, talented Ushna Sohail overcame a stiff challenge from Sar Mansoor to win the title in style.

Aqeel Khan won the top prize of 120,000 for winning the mens singles title. Abid of Lahore won Rs 60,000 and the runners-up trophy.

In the under-18 final, Shoaib Khan was extended fully by talented Nouman Aftab before emerging victorious. M Dada won the under-16 final while under-14 final was won by Hashish Kumar.

Later, in his speech, PTF senior vice president Khalid Rehmani thanked the sponsors for substantially enhancing the prizemoney by Rs 300,000 which attracted the top players and boosted the game of tennis in the country. “Fifty leading players of the country took part in thiis impressive championship which is an honour for us,” said Rehmani.

Abbas Merchant, son of late Ebrahim Merchant and the main sponsor, also spoke on the occasion besides former Davis Cupper Saeed Hai.

U-14 Singles (final): Hashish Kumer bt Ibarahim 4-6,6-4,6-2.

Results (finals):

Men’s Singles: Aqeel Khan bt Abid Mustaq (LHR) 6-4, 6-2

Women’s Singles: Ushna Sohail bt Sara Mansoor 7-5,6-4

U-18 Singles: Shoaib Khan bt Nouman Aftab 5-7,6-2,6-3

U-16 Singles: M Dada bt Nalain Abbbas 6-4,6-1

U-12 Singles: Mahatir Muhammad bt Hamza Roman 6-0, 7-6, 10-1

U-10 Singles: Hamza Roman bt Zain Mustafa 8-0.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018