Shoaib stuns Heera in Kulsum Saifullah tennis

KARACHI: Promising junior M Shoaib continued his giant-killing run when he recorded another major upset at the 5th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Tournament at PTF Complex, Islamabad, on Friday.

Unseeded Shoaib surprised sixth seed Heera Ashiq 7-6(4), 6-4 in men’s single quarter-finals. In other matches of this category, Muzammil Murtaza thrashed Barkatullah 6-0, 6-3; Aqeel Khan overpowered Yusuf Khalil 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-1; and M Abid defeated Mudassir Murtaza 6-2, 6-4.

In men’s doubles quarter-finals, Ahmed Chaudhary and Barkatullah beat the duo of Yousaf Khalil and Heera Ashiq 6-3, 6-4. Mudassir Murtaza and M Shoaib smashed Imran Bhatti and Mian Bilal 6-1, 6- 1, while M Abid and Waqas Malik got walkover against Shakirullah and Abbas Khan.

In boys under-18 singles quarter-finals, Hamid Israr beat Aqib Hayat 7-5, 6-4; Subhan bin Salik defeated Mahatir Muhammad 6-3, 6-2; Hashish Kumar won against Faizan Fayyaz 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; and M Shoaib beat Nalain Abbas 6-3, 6-2.

In boys under-14 singles quarter-finals, Haider Ali beat Hussnain Ali 4-2, 4-2; Yahya Musa thrashed Saim Shahzad 4-0, 4-0; Bilal Asim smashed Asad Zaman 4-0, 4-0; and Shahsawar overpowered Hamza Asim 4-1, 4-5(5), 4-1.

In boys under-14 doubles quarter-finals, Shahsawar and Yahya Musa thrashed Ehtisham Hamayun and Asad Zaman 4-0, 4-0. Ahmed Nail and Bilal Asim smashed the duo of Taimoor Khan and Jamal Shah 4-0, 4-0.

In seniors 45-plus category, Rashid Malik and Hameed-ul-Haq overpowered Azeem Khan and Imran Ahmed 6-1, 3-6(10-2).