Tennis
Haniya Minhas earns three honors at Little Mo Internationals
SPORTS BULLETIN
Islamabad:-Haniya Minhas, Pakistan’s 12-year-old tennis girl, has emerged victorious in the Girls Under-12 Singles, Doubles and Mixed doubles at the recently concluded Little Mo Internationals in New York.
In the Girl’s Singles, Haniya defeated Juliana Castellanos Trujillo in straight sets 6-1 and 6-1. She then teamed up with Juliana for the Girl’s Under-12 Doubles, where they beat Nella Glowacka and Janita Files with a score of 8-3 in the final. Thomas O'Neill and Haniya teamed up for the Mixed Doubles defeating Ishaan Yadlapalli and Elizabeth Sabaev with a score of 8-5 in the final.
“These trophies mean a lot and I want to continue playing to the best of my abilities,” said Haniya after receiving the trophy.
It is pertinent to mention here that the "Little Mo" Tournaments are important launching tournaments for rising stars. Little Mo is named after Maureen Connolly, the winner of nine major singles titles and the first woman to win a Grand Slam. She is also the only player in history to win a title without losing a set at all four major championships and was a leading player in her time.
Haniya has won a total of 8 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in eight months, making her the highest-ranked tennis player from Pakistan in the Asian Tennis Championships, in the 14 years and under-age category, for both boys and girls. In 2021, Haniya also won a bronze at the IMG Future-Stars in Greece.
TENNIS - ITF Juniors 12 Sep, 2022
SPORTS BULLETIN
Islamabad:-Pakistan outclassed Hong Kong 3-0 in their opening fixture of the ITF Asia 12&U Team Final Competition 2022 that started Nursultan, Kazakhstan on Monday, which will conclude on September 17, 2022 at the same venue.
According to an official of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), as many as 8 teams of the region are talking part in the international juniors’ tennis event. Pakistan is in Group A along with Iran, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and Myanmar while India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan are in Group B.
On opening day, Pakistan beat Hong Kong 3-0, as all players performed excellent and won their matches comfortably.
Results:
Boys Singles:
Abubakar Talha beat Cho Lam Wong 6-1, 6-0
Hamza Ali Rizwan beat Kyle Wan 6-4, 6-1
Boys Doubles:
Abubakar Talha / Omer Jawad beat Cho Lam Wang/ Yue Hin 6-1, 6-1
Davis Cup: Pakistan to face Austria on September 16, 2022
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan will face Austria in the Davis Cup World Group 1 tie, which will be held at the Sportland Arena in Tulln an der Donau, Austria, on September 16 and 17, 2002.
According to an official of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), the tie will be held on red clay courts, as Pakistani players will reach Austria on the 10th of September, to acclimatize to the playing conditions.
The Pakistan team consists of playing captain Aisam ul Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Mohammad Shoaib, Muzammil Murtaza and Mohammad Abid while Austrian team consists of Coach Jurgen Melzer and players Jurij Rodionov, Filip Misolic, Gerald Melzer, Lucas Miedler and Alexander Erler.
The Pakistan team has been training at the clay courts of the PTF-SDA Complex in Islamabad since the 22nd of August, to prepare for the tie. President PTF Salim Saifullah Khan conveyed his best wishes to the team and prayed for their success.
Bilal shocks Heera to win Punjab Open Tennis Championship title
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Bilal beat Heera to win Punjab Open Tennis Championship title that concluded at State-of-the-Art Tennis Courts adjacent to Punjab International Tennis Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex here on Tuesday.
DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, former Davis Cupper and Secretary Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Rashid Malik and other officials were also present on this occasion. Rashid Malik also presented a shield to DG Sports Punjab.
DG Sports Punjab Tariq Qureshi also witnessed thrilling final matches and later distributed trophies and prizes among the prominent performers of Punjab Open Tennis Championship. Talking to media, Tariq Qureshi said that the State-of-the-Art Tennis Courts are a wonderful addition in the network of top class sports facilities prepared by Sports Board Punjab across the province. “These courts have been prepared in a scientific manner on the pattern of international standard courts used in the US Open Tennis Championship,” he elaborated.
Results (Finals):
Men's singles: Winner Bilal Asim, runner-up Heera Ashiq
Boys U-18: Winner Asad Zaman, runner-up Raahim Khan
Girls U-18: Winner Ammal Ali Qayyum, runner-up Zahra Salman
Boys/girls U-16: Winner Abu Baker Talha, runner-up Asad Zaman
Boys/girls U-16 doubles: Winners Abu Baker Talha, Zohaib Afzal Malik, runners-up Nabeel Ali Qayyum, Ammal Ali Qayyum
Boys U-14: Winner Umer Jawad, runner-up Abdullah Pirzada
Boys/girls U-12: Winner Umer Jawad, runner-up Abdul Rehman
Boys/girls U-10: Winner Hajra Sohail, runner-up Mustfa Uzair
Boys/girls U-8: Winner Ahsan Bari, runner-up Moosa Pirzada
Boys/girls U-6: Winner Soha Abdullah, runner-up Mohammad Moosa.
Punjab Open Tennis Championship: Asad Zaman reaches semis
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Pakistan's rising junior star Asad Zaman reached the semifinals of the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) Open Tennis Championship after winning his respective semifinals of the U-18 and U-16 here at the SBP's Tennis Academy Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Sunday.
On the third day of the prestigious event, total 24 matches were played and talented Asad Zaman won both of his quarterfinals to book berths in U-18 and U-16 semifinals.
First, Asad outsmarted spirited Abubakar Talha by 8-2 to earn a place in the U-18 semifinal. Then he played tremendous tennis against young Eesa Bilal and overwhelmed him by 8-1 to make into another semifinal of U-16.
After qualifying for the semifinals of two categories, Asad Zaman said: "First of all, I am thankful to Allah Almighty and then Tariq Zaman, CEO of Ali Embroidery Mills, for sponsoring me that is helping me emerge as top national U-18 and U-16 players and also winning titles one after another. I am also grateful to my mentor and coach Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz) for training me so that I have been excelling in the national circuit and keen to doing well in the international circuit as well."
In the men's singles quarterfinals, Heera Ashiq was in great form and outlasted Hassan Riaz by 6-1, 6-1. Imran Bhatti of Lahore Gymkhana played well against Ahmad Waqas Basit and outpaced him by 6-3, 6-3. Another emerging star Bilal Asim played well against veteran Sikandar Hayat and defeated him by 6-2, 6-4. Abdullah Adnan trounced young Hamza Jawad 6-1, 6-0 to earn a place in the semifinals.
The boys U-18 quarterfinals saw Raahim Khan doing well against Aized Khalil and toppling him by 8-2. Another promising player Hamza Jawad showed his skills against Aoun Raza by thrashed him by 8-0. Abubakar Khalil also utilised his experience against Zain Saeed well and won the encounter by 8-1.
In the boys U-16 quarterfinals, rising girls star of the country Amna Ali Qayum from Islamabad proved the power of women against a young boy Abdullah Pirzada and outshone him by 8-3. Abubakar Talha of Wapda didn't allow his young and spirited opponent Abdur Rehman and outclassed him by a thumping margin of 8-0.
In the boys/girls U-14 quarterfinals, Omer Jawad taught a tennis lessen to young Bismal Zia 6-0 while Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates & SICAS) shone against Rehan Shahid and edged out him by 6-4. Another promising player Nabeel Ali Qayum played well against Hashir Alam and defeated him by 6-4. In the last quarterfinal, Abdullah Pirzada outsmarted M Sohaan Noor by 6-2.
In the boys/girls U-12 quarterfinals, Omer Jawad trounced Mauz Shahbaz 6-0, Hajra Suhail (AAA Associates & SICAS) beat Bismal Zia 6-2, Romail Shahid beat Hafiz Hassan Ali 7-5 and Abdur Rehman (SICAS) beat Ayyan Shahbaz 6-1.
In the boys/girls U-10 pre-quarterfinals, Hajra Suhail beat Aized Siraj 6-0, Mauz Shahbaz beat M Ahil Najoom 6-0, Mustafa Uzair Rana beat Taha Asad 6-1, Salman Fawad beat Ameen Abdullah 6-4 and Zayd Ahmad beat Ahsan Bari 6-1.
Punjab Open Tennis Championship starts at Nishtar Park Lahore
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Punjab Open Tennis Championship 2022 got underway at State-of-the-Art five Tennis Courts adjacent to Punjab International Tennis Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex under the aegis of Sports Board Punjab here on Friday evening.
Former Davis Cupper and Secretary Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Rashid Malik and other notable sports figures were also present on this occasion. The final of the 5-day Punjab Open Tennis Championship will be played on August 30 at the same venue.
Around 150 male and female tennis players from all parts of the province are participating in this high-profile tennis championship. The championship is being contested in various age group categories including men's singles, boys U-18, girls U-18, boys U-16, boys U-14, boys/girls U-12, boys/girls U-10, boys/girls U-8 and boys/girls U-6.
Results (Singles Pre-Quarters):
Heera Ashiq beat Shahrukh Hussain 8-0
Imran Bhatti beat Hassan Kamran 8-0
Hamza beat Kamran Qureshi 8-2
Bilal Asim beat Abdul Saboor 8-0
Sikandar Hayat beat Aakif Hussain 8-0
Ahmad Waqas Basit beat M Faisal 8-1
Abdullah Adnan beat Saif ul Aziz 8-2
Boys’ Under-18 (Quarterfinals):
Hamza Jawad beat Around Raza 6-0
Abu Bakar Khalil beat Zain Saeed 6-1
Men’s Singles (Round-I):
Shahrukh Hussain beat Mohammad Akash 8-2
Hassan Riaz beat Farhan Qureshi 8-3
Rana Humayun beat Syed Shams ud Din 8-0
Saif ul Aziz beat Zain Butt 8-3
Amza Jawad beat Waqar Younis 8-1
Bilala Asim beat Ahmad Khan 8-0
Aakif Hussain beat Zaeem Ghafoor 8-2
Sikander Hayyat beat Syed M Mekaeel 8-1
Ahmad Waqas Basit beat Ahmad Adnan 8-5
Boys’ Under-18 (Round-I):
Raahim Khan beat Zaeem Ghafoor 6-2
Zain Saeed beat Mohammad Safin Khan 6-4
Abu Bakar Talha beat Mohammad Hammad Shahi
TENNIS - National Juniors 14 Aug, 2022
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Asad Zaman (Ali Embroidery) clinched double crown (U-18 and U-16 titles) and Mohammad Sohaan U-14 title in the PLTA Independence Day Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2022 that concluded here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore on Saturday.
In the boys U-18 final, Asad Zaman was up against Hamza Jawad. Both played well and fought till the end. After a tough battle, Asad managed to hold his nerves and succeeded in winning the title clash by 7-6. Earlier in the boys U-18 semifinals, Asad Zaman beat Ahtesham Arif 6-2 and Hamza Jawad beat Waleed Humayun 7-6.
Asad completed the brace of titles, when he outsmarted Waleed Humayun by 6-2 in the boys U-16 final. Delighted Asad, while talking to media, said that his game is improving with each passing day, thanks to his coach Rashid Malik (SBP Head Coach) and Tariq Zaman, CEO of Ali Embroidery Mills, whose generous support is helping him excel in national events and win titles one after another in his respective categories.
In the boys U-14 final, Muhammad Sohaan Noor outpaced Abdullah Pirzada 6-3. This was the maiden U-14 title of Sohaan’s tennis career, who thanked Allah Almighty for this feat and also expressed his gratitude to his coach Rashid Malik, whose guidance and coaching is improving his game and skills and he is feeling a better player with eyes on winning more national titles. Earlier in the boys U-14 semifinals, M Sohaan Noor beat Abdur Rehman 6-2 while Abdullah Pirzada beat Hashir Alam 6-3.
In the boys/girls U-12 final, Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates) beat Hajra Suhail 6-1. In the boys/girls U-10 final, Hajra Suhail (AAA Associates) beat Salman Pirzada 6-3 to clinch the title. Both Abdur Rehman and Hajra Suhail are the brilliant students of SICAS and excelling with back-to-back titles in their respective categories.
In the boys/girls U-8, Ahsan Bari grabbed gold medal, Ayyan Zafar silver medal and Musa Pirzada bronze medal. In the boys/girls U-6, Musa Pirzada bagged the gold medal, Mamnoon Bari silver medal and Faiz Pirzada bronze medal.
PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) graced the occasion as chief guest and distributed prizes and shields among the winners. Speaking on the occasion, Malik said that the purpose of holding this event was to celebrate the 75th Independence Day with great zeal and fervor. All the tennis players not only displayed quality tennis skills and games during the event but also celebrated Independence Day during the concluding ceremony with great zest.
Aisam-ul-Haq launches ACE Tennis Talent Hunt Program
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan’s top tennis star, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi has launched his ACE Tennis Talent Hunt Program at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex Islamabad, as a 2-day trials held under the supervision of Aisam ul Haq Qureshi on Augusr 8 and 9, 2022.
A sizeable number of young tennis players of Under-14 and Under-18 age categories from Islamabad and surrounding areas participated in the trials. The talent hunt program was initiated by Aisam-ul-Haq along with Aqeel Khan in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar to identify fresh talent of potential tennis players.
Salim Saifullah Khan President, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) visited PTF Tennis Complex and witnessed the trials and exchanged views with Aisam on this initiative. He also appreciated the efforts of Aisam ul Haq in undertaking this project, which will help promote tennis in the country.
The President-PTF also extended all possible support to the ACE management from the Pakistan Tennis Federation. The appearance of Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan on the scene is a good omen and he hoped that with the collective efforts, the game of tennis would further achieve the required standard.
Aisam-ul-Haq applauds Punjab government for constructing world-class tennis courts
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Taking another historic step Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz inaugurated five international standard tennis courts and Punjab’s first tennis academy adjacent to State of the Art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex by playing a shot against female tennis star Ushna Sohail on Thursday.
Director General Sports Punjab Mohammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Director Youth Affairs Syed Omair Hasan, Deputy Directors Rauf Bajwa and Chand Perveen, DSO Tanveer Shah, former Davis Cupper and Secretary PLTA Rasheed Malik, Pakistan’s world class tennis star AisamulHaq, Pakistan men’s number one Aqeel Khan, female tennis star Ushna Sohail and a large number of tennis officials and enthusiasts were also present on this occasion.
Talking to media on this occasion, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab AsadullahFaiz said it is a matter of great pleasure that a State of the Art Tennis facility is being launched for the talented tennis players of the province. “These courts are equipped with all international level facilities and now we will be able to organize international level tennis tournaments at our own venues.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that Punjab Sports Department has completed its responsibility and now its obligation of our coaches, trainers and young talented male and female tennis players to avail these facilities to the maximum and polish their skills. “The main objective of these modern tennis courts and academy is to groom young players from the age of 5 to 10 up to U-12, U-13 and U-16. In this way we will be able to produce several tennis stars in future,” he added.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that the tennis academy would be made more effective and operative so that budding players of the province could take maximum benefit out of this outstanding facility. “5 State of the Art tennis courts have been opened for players in Nishtar Park Sports Complex”.
Director General Sports Punjab Mohammad Tariq Qureshi said that the talented players will be provided top level sports facilities so that they can win laurels for the country in international sports competitions. “Bringing youngsters towards sports activities is our mission and we will utilise all our resources for this purpose. Now we can say that the future of tennis is bright in our country”.
World class tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq on this occasion thanked Sports Board Punjab and Punjab Sports Department for launching international standard tennis facility. “Sports Board Punjab has done its job by building world-class tennis courts, now it is the players' job to work hard”.
Aisam-ul-Haq said these days young players are getting top class tennis facilities which were not available to us. “The new players now will have to do something now. “The tennis courts have modern facilities which are very pleasing to see,” he added.
Punjab to hold Punjab Open Tennis Tournament in August
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz has announced that Sports Department Punjab will hold the Punjab Open Tennis Tournament 2022 here at the state-of-the-art Tennis Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex in August.
Asadullah Faiz made this announcement on Tuesday during his inspection visit to the Tennis Stadium along with former Davis Cupper and PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Deputy Director Rauf Bajwa and other officials. The Secretary Sports inspected the courts and the stadium and directed the officials concerned to complete the remaining work soon so that the grand tennis event may be conducted at the venue at the end of the next month.
“The purpose of conducting the Punjab Open Tennis Tournament is to provide opportunities to tennis players to exhibit their prowess in the mega event and also earn handsome prize money. Hopefully, top players will compete in the event and display high-quality tennis skills and techniques against each other with the aim of winning prestigious titles after giving their best against the best in the business,” he added.
Asadullah Faiz also expressed the hope to host the ATF and ITF junior tennis tournaments at the state-of-the-art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex. “We are in talks with the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association regarding hosting the first-ever Asian Junior Tennis event at the Tennis Stadium and after this inaugural international event, we will continue to host ATF and ITF events every year. These international events will help our players not only improve their games and skills but also their international rankings.”
Speaking on the occasion, PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik thanked Secretary Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz for taking keen interest in the promotion and development of tennis in Punjab especially at junior level. “We are especially focusing on junior tennis development because they are our real asset and future stars, who will represent the country in ATF, ITF and Grand Slam events and try to win international laurels for Pakistan.”
Malik said that besides the main five courts at the Tennis Stadium, there are four separate courts for junior players. “I am grateful to Secretary Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz for establishing separate courts for juniors. The PLTA, in collaboration with Punjab Sports Department and Sports Board Punjab, will host ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) Program, where the kids of age U-6 to U-12 will be trained.
“Most of our top ranked junior stars are the product of the JTI Program and we will continue to hold JTI program at these courts, so that we may find more promising and talented tennis players that will be coached and trained under able coaches and trainers and the most talented and shining ones among them will surely win international glories for Pakistan,” the PLTA Secretary added.
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