Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD:-A rising tennis lad, Bilal Asim claimed triple crowns in the 3rd Tennis Lovers Junior National Tennis Championship 2022 that concluded here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday. Bilal Asim played tremendous tennis throughout the tournament and brushed a-side his opponents in the three respective categories to win the Boys’ Singles Under-16, Boys’ Singles Under-18 and Boys’ Doubles titles.
In the Boys’ Under-18 final, Bilal outplayed talented Hamid Israr in straight sets 2-0 with the score of 6-3, 6-2. He doubled his crowns, when he and his partner Hamid Israr outclassed duo of young guns Asad Zaman and Nadir Reza Mirza at 6-4 and 6-3 in Boys’ Under-18 Doubles final. Bilal completed the hat-trick of crowns, when he overpowered promising Asad Zaman without conceding a single game with the score of 6-0, 6-0 in the Boys’ Under-16 final.
Earlier, in the girls Under-18 final, brilliant Zahra Suleman overcame spirited Ashtafila Arif 2-1 in a well contested three set final. The final score-line was 3-6, 7-5 and 10-3. The Boys Under-14 title was claimed by Nadir Reza Mirza, who overwhelmed Ahtesham Humayun by 6-2, 6-2. The Boys Under-14 Doubles title was lifted by Ahtesham/Hamza Roman, who defeated promising pair of Abubakar Talha and Zohaib Afzal Malik by 6-1 and 7-5.
Zohaib Afzal Malik and his partner Abubakar Talha secured the Boys/Girls U-12 Doubles title, when they toppled the duo of Omer Jawad and Ismail Aftab with the score of 6-0, 6-3 in the final. The Boys/Girls U-12 title was claimed by Umar Jawad, who routed Zohaib Afzal Malik 6-2, 6-2. Mohammad Shayan Afridi won the Boys/Girls U-10 title by beating young Hajra Suhail 4-1, 4-1. In Boys/Girls U-8, Salman Pirzada grabbed gold, Ehsan Bari silver and Aiman Rehan bronze medal. In Boys/Girls U-6, Musa Pirzada earned gold, Mamnoon Bari silver and Ibrahim Siraj bronze medal.
Secretary, Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Rashid Malik graced the concluding ceremony as chief guest and he, along with some prominent tennis lovers, gave away the winning trophies and shields to the winners. The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) extended the felicitations to Madam Aneesa Agha, Amir Malik, Hassan Said, Rehman Ullah, Sohail Raza, Sajjad Wahla, Sohail Raza and Dr Anees Ahmad for their all-out support and cooperation in making this event a success.