Zaeem cruises into third round at junior tennis

ISLAMABAD: Zaeem Ghafoor got the better of Inam Qadir 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in three-set match in the boys’ Under-18 singles category of the second PTF Development Series Junior National Ranking Tennis Tournament here at the PTF Complex Wednesday.

Zaeem came from behind to make it to the third round.

Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Col (r) Asif Zaman visited the PTF Complex to witness some of the matches and also distributed prizes amongst the winners and runners-up of the first PTF Development Series Junior National Ranking Tennis Tournament 2021.

The director general also interacted with the players and their parents and appreciated their participation and interest in these events. He was highly impressed by the state-of-the-art courts and general upgradation of the PTF Complex.

The PSB top official also endorsed his remarks in the visitors’ book and appreciated and lauded the efforts of the PTF management for their excellent achievements in the promotion of tennis in Pakistan.

He especially mentioned the passion, efforts and achievements of PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan, who will be long remembered not only for the promotion of tennis, development of infrastructure but also for bringing international tennis back to Pakistan after a lapse of twelve years through his personal efforts and interaction with ITF senior leadership.

Results: Boys’ Under-18 singles (second round): Hamza Aasim bt Hamza Al Zuhair 6-0, 6-0; Zaeem Ghafoor bt Inam Qadir 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Mustansair Ali Khan bt Muhammad Ali 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Talha Khan bt Hamza Rehmat 6-0, 6-1; Abdul Hanan Khan bt Faizan Shahid 7-5, 6-2; Kashan Tariq bt Abdullah Wasif 6-2,6-2; Kamran Khan bt Mamoon Ilyas: 6-0,6-0.

Boys’ Under-16 singles second round: Abdul Hanan Khan bt Ibrahim Sohail 6-0, 6-0; Asad Zaman bt Zaeem Ghafoor 6-2, 6-3; M. Hamza Aasim bt Ibrahim Ashraf 6-0, 6-2; Uzair Khan bt M. Talha 6-1, 6-2; Shaeel Durab bt 6-0, 7-5; Talha Khan bt Abdullah 6-0, 6-0.

Girls’ singles 16 and under: Amna Ali Qayum bt Fatima Ali Raja 6-1, 6-1; Zainab Ali Raja bt Amara Khan 6-1, 6-0; Farah Shah Khan bt Sara Khan 6-0, 6-0: Sheeza Sajid bt Soha Ali 6-3, 6-3.

Boys’ singles 14 and Under (1st round): Muhammad Haziq bt Eshaan Ali 4-0, 4-0; Abdul Basit bt Nabeel Ali Qayum 4-0, 4-2; Ibrahim Ashraf bt Abdullah 4-2, 4-2; M. Talha bt Eesa Fahd 4-0,4-1; Ali Zain bt Syed Hamza Hussain 4-0, 4-2.