Sports Bulletin

SB News ISLAMABAD (January 12, 2020):-The 5th edition of the Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships will be held from January 13 to 19, 2020, said an official of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Sunday. This is a Grade-A Tournament offering several events in various categories. The tournament will be played on the World Class “Plexipave Cushion Prestige” surface of the courts at the SDA-PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad. It is amongst the leading prestigious events in the tennis calendar, organised by the Saifullah Khan family in memory of their mother, the late Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan. Salim Saifullah Khan, President PTF, on behalf of the Saif Group, announced handsome prize money of Rs. 800,000, which would be distributed amongst the winners and runners up, and other prize winners. Event will be contested for Men’s Singles & Doubles, Ladies Singles & Doubles.  In the Juniors categories, Boys 18U & 14U, Boys & Girls 12U & 10U will be played.  As well, Seniors 45+ Doubles will also feature in the events.

Salman Khan LAHORE (January 10, 2020):-Mian Bilal, Ahmad Kamil, Imran Bhatti and Sikander Hayat marched in the semifinal of men’s singles category of the First Sports Board Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2020 at PLTA Courts Bagh-e-Jinnah on Friday. The championship will conclude with a grand closing ceremony at State of the Art Nishtar Park Sports Complex Tennis Stadium on Saturday. The final matches will be played at the same venue where Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh will likely to be the chief guest. The quarterfinal and semifinal competitions of men’s singles, boys’ Under-18, boys’ Under-16, boys’ Under-12 and boys’ Under-10 were played on the third day of First Sports Board Punjab Junior Tennis Championship at PLTA Courts Bagh-e-Jinnah. According to results, Noor Malik and Esha Jawad thrashed their respective opponents and booked a place in the final of ladies contest. Noor Malik outplayed Asfa Shahbaz by 6-0, 6-0 in straight sets while Esha Jawad emerged triumphant against Nida Akram with the score of 6-2, 6-2. In girls’ U-18 semifinal clash, AshtifilaArif toppled Fajar Masood by 6-0, 6-1 and confirmed a spot in the semifinal. In men’s singles category quarterfinal, Mian Bilal defeated Fayyaz Khan by 6-1, 6-0, Ahmad Kamil trounced Rana Humayun by 6-2, 6-2, Imran Bhatti beat Zaryab Pirzada by 6-3, 6-3 and Sikander Hayat beat Nalain Abbas by the score of 6-2, 6-3. In boys’ U-18 quarterfinal competition, Faizan Fayyaz edged out Hamza Jawad by 8-6 while Hassan Ali won his match against Ahmad Amir with the score of 8-4.  Results: (Ladies Singles Semifinals) Noor Malik beat Asfa Shahbaz 6-0, 6-0 Esha Jawad beat Nida Akram 6-2, 6-2. Results (Girls’ U-18 semifinals) AshtifilaArif beat Fajar Masood 6-0, 6-1  Results (Men’s singles quarterfinals) Mian Bilal beat Fayyaz Khan 6-1, 6-0 Ahmad Kamil beat Rana Humayun 6-2, 6-2 Imran Bhatti beat Zaryab Pirzada 6-3, 6-3 Sikander Hayat beat Nalain Abbas 6-2, 6-3  Results (Boys’ U-18 quarterfinals) Faizan Fayyaz beat Hamza Jawad 8-6 Zain Ch beat HarisWahla  8-5 Hassan Ali beat Ahmad Amir 8-4.  Results (Boys’ U-14 quarterfinals) Saeed Suleman beat Abdullah Sajjad 8-1 Ameer Mazari beat Moavia Butt 8-2 Zaeem Ghafoor beat Eesa Bilal 8-1 Ehtesham Humayun beat Sarim Rasul 8-3  Results (Girls’ U-14 quarterfinals) Mehru Fatima beat Jannat Khalil 3-4, 4-2, 10-2 Saleha Zeeshan beat Alina Suleman 0-4, 4-1, 10-1. 

    Faraz Ahmed Kayani ISLAMABAD (December 22, 2019):-Muzzamil Murtaza defeated Aqeel Khan in the final of Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Championship 2019, at Islamabad Tennis Complex on Sunday.   Results (All finals) Men Singles: Muzzamil Murtaza beat Aqeel Khan 7-6(8-6), 6-1 Boy’s Under-18: Mohammad Shoaib Khan beat Hasheesh Kumar 6-3, 6-3 Boys Under-14: Hamid Israr beat Mahatir Mohammad 7-5, 6-4 Ladies Singles: Mahin Aftab beat Sara Mehboob 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 Boys/Girls final Under-12: Hamza Roman beat Haider Ali Rizwan 6-2, 6-3. Boys/Girls finalU-10: Hamza Roman beat Haniya Minhas 6-2, 6-1  

Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Championship, Aisam and Aqeel win Men’s Double title By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (December 19, 2019):-Ace national players Aisam-ul Haq pairing with Aqeel Khan on Thursday won the Double Men’s Event of Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Championship by beating Mohammad Sohaib and Huzaifa Rehman 2-0 in the final at Islamabad Tennis Complex. The final score-line was 6-3 and 6-3. Results: Men Singles (Quarterfinals): Aqeel Khan beat Yousaf Khalil 6-3, 6-3 Ahmed Choudhry beat Shezad Khan 6-4, 6-2 Muzamil Murtaza beat Huzaifa A Murtaza 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 Heera Ashiq beat Aman Atiq 6-2, 6-1   Men Doubles final Matches: AisamulHaq/Aqeel Khan beat Mohammad Sohiab/Huzaifa A Rehman 6-3, 6-3   Boys Under-18 (Pre Quaterfinal): Subhan bin Saliq beat Nalain Abbas 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 Aqib Hayat beat Osama Khan 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Mohammad Shoaib beat M.ohammad Huzaifa Khan 6-1, 6-1 Boys Under-14 (pre-quarterfinals): Huzaima A Rehman beat Kamran Khan 4-2, 4-1 Uzair Khan beat Ahtesham Humayun 4-2, 4-0 Ahmad Niel beat Taimoor Khan 4-0, 4-1 Hamid Israr beat Ali Zain 4-0, 4-2 Hamza Asim beat Husnain Rizwan 4-1, 5-4(1) Haider Ali Rizwan beat Yahya Musa Luni 4-1, 4-1 Mahatir Mohammad beat Shasawar Khan 4-1 5-3, Ladies Singles (Pre-quaterfinals): Sara Mansoor w/o Sara Rehman Mehak Khokhar beat Mahnoor Sohail 6-0, 6-1 Mahvish Chisti beat SaherAleem 6-0, 6-1 Mariam Mirza beat Mahrukh Farooqui 6-2, 6-1 Mahin Aftab beat Nida Akram 6-0, 6-0 Boys/Girls(pre-quarterfinals): Haniya Minhas w/o Rayan Saud Hamza Roman beat LalarukhSajid 4-0, 4-0 Asad Zaman beat Sohail Afzal 3-5, 4-0, 4-0 Boys/Girls Under -10 (prequarterfinals): Haniya Minhas bea tMohammad Shayan 4-0, 4-0 Haziq Asim beat Saqib Ali 4-1, 4-1 Nabeel Qayum beat Hassan Usmani 5-4(10), 2-4, 5-4 Amir Mazari beat Zunaisha Noor 4-0, 4-0 Ammar Masood beat Abdul Wasay 4-0, 4-0 Men Doubles (45+): Imran Ahmed/Azeem Khan beat Isrargul/ Jahanzeb Khan 6-3, 6-4 Col Shahid/Col Aqeel Kiyani beat Ali Qayum/GulHameed 6-3, 6-0.

Aisam-ul-Haq to participate in the Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Tournament By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (December 17, 2019):-Hameed-ul-Haq and Ahmed Choudhary have won their match on Tuesday in the 5th Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Tournament 2019 at Islamabad Tennis Complex G-6 Islamabad. Results (Men Singles Round-1): Barkat ullah beat Nauman Aftab 6-4, 6-1 Hameed ul Haq beat Ahmed Kamil 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Ahmed Choudhry beat Khursheed Abbassi 6-0, 6-2 Shezad Khan beat Ibrahim omer 6-0, 6-2 Yousaf Khan beat Rashid Malik 6-1, 6-4. Men Doubles (Round-2): Muzzamil Murtaza/Muddassir Murtaza beat Rashid Malik/Sikandar Hayat 6-2, 6-2 Aisam ul Haq Qureshi/Aqeel Khan beat Col Shahid/Usman Ejaz 6-1, 6-1. Boy’s Under-18: Mahatir Mohammad beat Ahtesham Arif 6-2, 6-2 Mohammad Shoib w/o Afham Rana Farman Shakeel beat Sami Zeb 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 Uzair Khan beat Hasan Ali 6-3, 6-4 Nalain Abbas beat Parbat Kumar 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 Hamid Israr w/o Abdul Hanan Khan Osama Khan beat Zain ch 6-0, 6-0 Noor e Mustafa beat Kashan Umer 6-0, 6-1 Mohammad Huzaifa Khan beat Ahmed Nael 6-3, 6-0 Hasheesh Kumar beat Talha Khan 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 Faizan Shahid bt Hamza Asim 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 Aqib Hayat beat Yahya Musa Luni 6-3, 6-0.   Boys/Girls 1st round U-12: Ali Zain beat Marukh Sajid 4-0, 4-0 Hamza Ali beat Orhan Sohail 4-0, 4-1 Ahtesham Humayun beat Shahsawar Khan 4-1, 4-0   Boys/Girls 1st round U-10: Han li De w/o Jamal Shah Haziq Asim beat Aqtan Bekeshov 4-0, 4-0 Hamza Roman beat Lalarukh Sajid 4-0, 4-0 Abdul Wasay W/O Anees Ahmed Mohammad Shayan w/o Hamad Shah

By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (December 16, 2019):-The 5th Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Championship kicked off here at Islamabad Tennis Complex (ITC) G-6/4 on Monday. All top seeded players of main draw moved into next round after beating their rivals. As many as 185 players from all over the country are participating in different categories of the national tennis fixture that has one million rupees prize money.   Results: Men’s Singles (Round-I): Aqeel khan beat Faizan Fayaz 6-1, 6-1 Sami Zeb beat Shakir ullah 6-3, 6-0 Israr Gul beat Danish Ramzan 6-2, 6-3 Asan ullah beat Ejaz Khan 6-1, 6-3 Heera Ashiq beat Ayaz Khan 6-0, 6-2 Mohammad Shoiab beat Farhad Ali Raza 6-1, 6-0 Muzzamil Murtaza beat Saqib Hayat 6-3, 6-4 Aman Atiq beat Shaheen Mehmood 6-1, 6-1 Muddassar Murtaza beat Jibran ul Haq 6-2, 6-3 Huzaifa Abdur Rehman beat Ahmed Baber 6-0, 6-0. Men’s Doubles (Round-I): Amed baber/Saqib hayat beat Ahmed Kamil/Nauman Aftab 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 Rashid Malik/Sikandar Hayat beat Danish Ramzan/Asad Bachani 6-0, 6-2 Shazad Khan/Ahmed Choudhry beat Shakir ullah/Asad Ullah 6-0, 6-0   Heera Ashiq/Yousaf Khalil beat Shahid Afridi/Shaheen Mehmood 7-5, 6-4 Mohammad Shoiab/Huzaifa Abdul Rehman beat Khursheed Abbasi/Aman Atiq bt 6-1, 6-2 Muzzamil Murtaza/Muddassir Murtaza beat Ejaz khan/Barkat ullah 6-3, 1-6, 10-4 Col Shahid/Usman Ejaz beat Muhammad Minhas/Ibrahim Omer 4-6, 6-4 10-8. Boys/Girls U-10: Haider Ali Rizwan w/o Hammad Shah Mohammad Haziq Asim beat Sameer Maqsood 4-2 4-0 Asad Zaman W/o Jamal Shah Haniya Minhas beat Mahnoor Farooqi 4-0, 4-0 Lala Rukh Sajid bt Awais Ali 4-1, 4-1.

PTF nominates Gul Rehman only official for Davis Cup Tie By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (November 22, 2019):-President, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Salim Saifullah Khan on Friday nominated Gul Rehman solitary official for upcoming Davis Cup Tennis Tie against traditional foes India. International Tennis Federation (ITF) has shifted this mega event from Pakistan to a neutral venue, as this will be played at Nur-Sultan Kazakhstan   In the backdrop of the decision of the Independent Tribunal of the ITF, UK, upholding the decision of the Davis Cup Committee, of November 2, 2019, on the appeal by the PTF challenging the Davis Cup Committee's decision, the senior players of the national team had decided not to play the tie against India at a neutral venue, due the unfair and high-handed behavior displayed by the Indian team to avoid coming to Islamabad despite the many other international teams and celebrities having visited during earlier weeks.  Respecting and supporting the stand of the senior players, yet obliged to participate in the Davis Cup, as a member of the ITF, the President of the PTF, Salim Saifullah Khan, directed the PTF to nominate three best juniors, and a couple of the best young transition players, with an eye on their potentially being top Pakistani players in the next 2 to 3 years, to select a 3 member team to play the tie, now to be held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on 29 and 30 Nov, with both Pakistan and India being visiting nations, so Pakistan retaining the choice of Home Tie for the next time the 2 countries play one another.  President PTF and the Selection Committee picked up the 2 top juniors of the country and the best transition player to make the team.  Huzaifa Abdul Rehman, Shoaib Khan, and Yousaf Khan Khalil would be the part of national tennis team against India. While secretary PTF Gul Rehman will visit along with the team as manager.  The PTF President, while expressing serious disappointment on the behavior of the AITA, wished the best to the team of youngsters, advising them to make most of the experience without worrying about winning or losing to the top players India will be fielding.

SB Report (October 25, 2019) ISLAMABAD-The three-day ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference under the banner of BNP Paribas kicked off from Friday (today) Bangkok from 25th to 27th October, 2019. The Pakistani participants Rashid Malik Secretary Punjab Lawn Tennis Association and Hamid Niaz, National Coordinator of the Pakistan Juniors Tennis Initiative program (JTI) met with Haggerty President International Tennis Federation (ITF) at the ITF Coaches Conference.  The Other coaches from Pakistan attending this important annual event are Asim Shafik National Development Director PTF, Head Coach NTC, Sara Mansoor Fed Cup Captain, and Nouman ul Haq ITF Level-1 Certified Coach.

SB Report ISLAMABAD:-Top Seed Mert Aysegul (TUR) clinch the Girls Singles title by eliminating unseed Soo Ha Jang (KOR) in the Girls Singles final whereas second seed Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) annexed the Boys Singles Title by beating 6th Seed Shoaib Khan (PAK) in straight sets at ITA-SNGPL ITF Pakistan World Junior Tennis Championships at PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Friday. In the Girls Singles event, top seed Aysegul (TUR) played outstanding tennis in the first set Ayesgul and won the first set at 6-1 breaking 3rd and 5th game. She was in excellent touch and forehand drives were watched to witness and her cross court shorts were could not return by opponent, Soo Ha Jang unable to adjust against the pace of powerful game of Aysegul. In the second set Ayesgul was in full command and build up the lead 4-0 by breaking 1st and 3rd game . Soo Ha Jang reduced the lead 3-4 by breaking 6th game of Aysegul. Mert Aysegul won the second set at 6-3 by breaking 9th game of Soo Ha Hang. She gain valuable 21 ITF ranking points by winning the title. The match lasted 1 hour 10 minutes and officiate by Husnain Mehmood. In Boys Singles final, second seed Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) continue his winning streak and won the Boys Singles title. He build up the winning lead 4-0 by breaking 2nd and 4th game of the first set. Shoaib broke the 5th game of Huzaifa and reduce the lead 3-4. Huzaifa won the first set at 6-4 by holding his own serve. In the second set Shoaib Khan played very consistent game from the base line and took the lead 5-1 by breaking 3rd and 5th game of Huzaifa and won the second set at 6-3 and level the score one set all. In the final set Huzaifa changed the strategy and played more consistent powerful drive from the base line and build up the lead 4-0 by breaking 1st and 3rd game of Soahib and won the final set at 6-3 and it was his second consecutive title which is a new record in Pakistan. He got valuable 21 international ranking points. The match lasted 2 hours 15 minutes and Shahzad Akhtar Alvi ITF White Badge officiate the match. In the Boys Doubles final, Gunuk Kang (KOR) / KIM Min-Joon (KOR) beat Mohammad Nauman Aftab (PAK) / Saqib Hayat (PAK) 7-5, 6-2. In the Girls Doubles final, Ji Woo Chai (KOR) / Soo Ha Jang (KOR) beat Mahta Khanloo (IRI) / Meshkatolzahra Safi (IRI) 6-3 7-5. Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas Chairman Board SNGPL grace the occasion as chief guest, Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, President ITA, Ms. Amena Director General Pakistan Sports Board,  Kashif Ismail CEO Faiza Beauty, Mr. Amjad Ikram Mian General Secretary SNGPL Sports Cell, Col. Gul Reman, Secretary PTF, Mrs. Nighat Saeed Member Women Wing ITA, were also present at the Prize Distribution. Glittering shields were distributed among the winners and finalist of the Boys & Girls Singles and Doubles event. Results: Boy’s Singles Final: Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) beat Shaoib Khan(PAK) 6-4 3-6 6-3 Girls Singles Final: Aysegul Mert (TUR) beat Soo Ha Jang (KOR) 6-1, 6-3        Boys Doubles Final Gunuk Kang (KOR) / KIM Min-Joon (KOR) beat M.Nauman Aftab (PAK) / Saqib Hayat (PAK) 7-5, 6-2. Girls Doubles Final Ji Woo Chai (KOR) / Soo Ha Jang (KOR) beat Mahta Khanloo (IRI) / Meshkatolzahra Safi (IRI) 6-3 7-5.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD-The Second seed Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) and 6th Seed Shoaib Khan (PAK) will face each other for the top honor in the Boy’s Singles final whereas defending Champion Aysegul Mert (TUR) will face Soo Ha Jang (KOR) in Girls Singles final after beating their respective opponents in straight sets matches of second leg of the ITF Pakistan Junior World Ranking Tennis Championships PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Thursday. Unseeded Soo Ha Jang (KOR) caused a major upset when she eliminated 3rd Seed Arina Valitova (RUS) in a well contested, well fought two sets match. In the first set, Arina Valitova built up the lead 3-1 by breaking 3rd game  of Soo Ha Jang (KOR) , she leveled the score 5-5 all by breaking 10th game of Arina and won the 1st set at 7-5 by breaking the last game of Arina at 0-40 in which Arina hitting one double fault. In the second set there was close contest and long rallies was witnessed during the set and secore went up to 4-4all and both the players hold their respective serve. Soo Ha once again played some fine down the line shorts and won the second set at 6-4 by breaking 10th game of Arina and moved into the Girls Singles final.  In the other semi final Aysegul Mert (TUR) was in excellent touch and eliminated her opponents in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. The final of Girls Singles between Top seed Aysegul Mert (TUR) and Soo Ha Jang (KOR) will be played tomorrow Friday 18th October 2019 at 2:30 PM. In the first semi final of Boys singles, the 6th Seed Shoaib Khan struggle hard to win his encounter against unseeded Gunuk Kang (KOR) in three sets match. Gunuk Kang won the first set at 6-4 by breaking 10th game of Shoaib Khan. In the second set both the players showed world class tennis and number of winners down the line and cross courts were seen by the spectators and score reached 4-4all in the second set as both players hold their respective serves, at 5-4 Gunuk caught set point and match point Shoaib not only save the match point but broke his game and level the score 5-5all and won the second set at 7-5 by breaking last game of Gunuk Kang. In the final set Shoaib Khan was in full command and did not allow his opponent to settle down and won the set at 6-1 by breaking 3rd and 5th game of Gunuk of Korea. The match lasted 2 hurs and officiate by Rashid Ali. Shoaib Khan will face Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) in the Boys Final  In the second semi final Huzaifa Abdul Rehman registered straight set win without any resistance at score of 6-1, 6-1 against Min-Joon KIM (KOR). The Boys Singles Final will be played tomorrow Friday 18th October 2019 at 10:45 AM  The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is pleased to inform that Mr. Salim Saifullah Khan President Pakistan Tennis Federation visited PTF Tennis Complex Islamabad today to witness the ITA-SNGPL ITF PAKISTAN JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS-2019 and especially the match between Shoaib Khan (PAK) and Gunuk KANG (KOR), which Shoaib won by exhibiting some excellent performance and was in full command of the match. The President also interacted with the foreign players, and their parents/coaches. The foreign players and their parents as usual showed great satisfaction with the conduct of the event and specially were full of appreciation for playing on the state of the art courts in such beautiful surroundings and environment. The players and coaches were also very impressed with the hospitality and friendly attitude of the Pakistanis. Results: Boys Singles Semi Finals: Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) beat Min-Joon KIM (KOR) 6-1, 6-1 Shoaib Khan (PAK) beat Gunuk Kang (KOR) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 Girls Singles Semi Finals: Aysegul Mert (TUR) beat Ji Woo Choi (KOR) 6-4, 6-1, Soo Ha Jang (KOR) beat Arina Valitova (RUS) 7-5, 6-4 Boys Doubles Semi Finals: Gunuk Kang (KOR) / Min-Joon KIM (KOR) beat Shoaib Khan (PAK) / Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (PAK) 2-6, 7-6(2) 10-7 Mohammad Nauman Aftab (PAK) / Saqib Hayat (PAK) beat Luca Emanuel Knese (GER) / Daniel Webb (GBR) 7-6(2), 6-3. Boys Doubles Finals: Gunuk Kang (KOR) / Min-Joon KIM (KOR) Vs Muhammad Nauman Aftab (PAK) / Saqib Hayat (PAK) Match stopped due to rain Girls Doubles Final: Ji Woo Chai (KOR) / Soo Ha Jang (KOR) Vs Mahta Khanloo (IRI) / Meshkatolzahra Safi (IRI)