KARACHI: The second Modern Club Founder Members Tennis Championship that carries a lucrative purse of Rs500,000 begins at the club’s refurbished courts from Thursday.

The club, which has six hard courts, was bustling with activity as a couple of reputed players including men’s, women’s and youth have arrived here from upcountry and were seen practising at the venue.

Prominent among those who have arrived here include Mohammad Abid, Usman Rafiq, Faizan Khurram, Heera Ashiq, Abdal Haider and veteran Rashid Malik (Lahore), brothers Mudassir Murtaza and Muzammil Murtaza (Multan), Haris Iltifat (Islamabad), Sara Mehboob, Sara Mansoor, Mehak Khokhar (Islamabad), Ushna Sohail (Lahore).

Country’s top player Aqeel Khan who will defend his men’s singles title is in the best nick and likely to retain the crown. He has arrived from Colombo on Tuesday where he has gone on a private visit. A sum of Rs100,000 is at stake for the men’s singles winner.

According to draws, Aqeel has been top seeded in the men’s singles followed by his sibling Yasir Khan.

Sara Mansoor and Sara Mehboob have been seeded one and two respectively, in the women’s singles.

Besides the men’s and women’s singles, other events that will take place include men’s doubles, boys under-18 singles, boys under-14 singles, boys under-10 singles, seniors 35 singles, seniors 45 plus doubles and seniors 55 plus doubles.

The organisers are incurring approximately a sum of rupees one million to make the event a success.

Thursday’s fixtures:

Men’s singles qualifying round at 11am; under-14 singles 3pm; boys under-12 singles and men’s doubles qualifying round at 5pm; 45 plus doubles 6pm.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2016