Aqeel beats Bajwa to enter 2nd round

ISLAMABAD: Following couple of days of heavy rain and uncertain situation, the $15,000 Begum Kulsum ITF Futures International Tennis got underway with Pakistan top player Aqeel Khan making immediate impact beating Indian opponent Paramveer Singh Bajwa in a hard fought three-set match here at the PTF Complex courts Wednesday.

Aqeel moved into the second round with 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over the Indian. The Pakistan top player, who had a tough draw in the first Futures event, this time got his perfect match and successfully made it to the second round courtesy to some exciting tennis display.

Both players moved all over the court and played excellent tennis skills during the match.Another Pakistani Samir Iftikhar, who was impressive in the Futures I, showed class by crushing his Indian opponent Jatin Dahiya in straight sets without conceding a single game 6-0, 6-0.

He was in an excellent form and displayed quality, passion and perseverance to outclass his opponent with some exciting and calculated game.Top seed Russian Ivan Nedelko continued his excellent form and fourth seed Spain’s Pere Riba easily progressed into the next round by overwhelming their respective opponents.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Salim Saifullah Khan while witnessing the matches expressed his pleasure at the continuity of the matches and hoped for a clear weather in the coming days.

Results: Men’s singles first round: Ivan Nedelko (RUS) (1) bt Anton Chekhov (Rus) 6-3, 6-4; Aqeel Khan (Pak) bt Paramveer Singh Bajwa (Ind) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Julian Onken (Ger) (6) bt Ahmed Choudhry (Pak) 7-6 (5), 6-2; Pere Riba (Esp) (4) bt Roy Hobbs (Sgp) 6-0, 6-1; Luka Pavlovic (Fra) bt Jayesh Punglia (Ind)(8) 6-2, 6-1; Samir Iftikhar (Pak) bt Jatin Dahiya (Ind) 6-0, 6-0, Kelsey Stevenson (Can) bt Heera Ashiq (Pak) 6-7 (3),7-6 (4), 6-1; Shalva Dzhanashia (Rus) (5) bt Muhammad Akbar (Pak) 6-0, 6-0.