LAHORE - Noor Malik (Wapda) and Natalia Zaman (Karachi) clinched the ladies and girls U-18 titles respectively in the Bank of Punjab (BoP) Junior National Tennis Championship here at Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah on Wednesday.
In the ladies singles final, Noor Malik of Wapda was up against Asifa Shahbaz. Noor dominated the final right from the word go and didn’t allow her opponent freely, thus comfortably winning the final 6-1, 6-2. After winning the title clash, jubilant Noor said: “I am thankful to my father/coach Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) for his all-out support throughout these years while his guidance and coaching enabled me clinch another national title. I am now more committed to train harder and win more national titles.”
In the girls U-18 final, Natalia Zaman of Karachi brushed aside young Ashtafila Arif 6-3, 6-0. Natalia faced some resistance from Ashtafila in the first set, winning it 6-3. She then never looked back and played aggressive tennis to comfortably win the second set 6-0, thus lifting the coveted girls U-18 trophy. In the girls U-12 final, Zunaisha Noor outpaced Esha Rabi 4-0, 4-1 to claim the title.
In the U-16 final, Bilal Asim of SICAS had to struggle hard to beat spirited Asad Zaman 6-2, 6-1. Bilal Asim praised his coach Rashid Malik for the hard work, saying, “My coach Rashid Malik has been doing great work with me for the last couple of years and he wants me to become an international player and win international laurels for Pakistan.” Earlier in the U-16 first semifinal, Bilal Asim outsmarted Ahmad Nael 6-2, 6-0 while the marathon second semifinal saw Asad Zaman and Haider Ali Rizwan playing outstanding tennis and after a tough battle, Asad won the clash 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
In the U-14 semifinals, Hamza Roman had to struggle hard to beat talented Amir Mazari 6-4, 1-6, 10-2 while Hamza Ali Rizwan (LGS Paragon) outlasted Omer Jawad 6-0, 6-3. In the U-12 semifinals, Hamza Ali Rizwan record another convincing victory against emerging star Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates) 6-2, 6-4 while Omer Jawad also made into second final by beating talented Zohaib Afzal Malik 4-2, 4-1.
In U-12 doubles semifinals, Zohaib Afzal Malik/Abubakar Talha beat Arslan Khan/Anis Khan 4-0, 4-0. In the U-14 doubles final, Hamza Roman/Taimor Khan toppled Amir Mazari/Sameer Zaman 4-2, 4-0. In the U-10 quarterfinals, Hamza Sohail beat Maaz Shahbaz 4-0, 4-1, Inam Ali beat Ayyan Shahbaz 4-2, 4-0 and Shayyan Afridi beat Ahsan Bari 4-0, 4-0.
In the ladies singles final, Noor Malik of Wapda was up against Asifa Shahbaz. Noor dominated the final right from the word go and didn’t allow her opponent freely, thus comfortably winning the final 6-1, 6-2. After winning the title clash, jubilant Noor said: “I am thankful to my father/coach Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) for his all-out support throughout these years while his guidance and coaching enabled me clinch another national title. I am now more committed to train harder and win more national titles.”
In the girls U-18 final, Natalia Zaman of Karachi brushed aside young Ashtafila Arif 6-3, 6-0. Natalia faced some resistance from Ashtafila in the first set, winning it 6-3. She then never looked back and played aggressive tennis to comfortably win the second set 6-0, thus lifting the coveted girls U-18 trophy. In the girls U-12 final, Zunaisha Noor outpaced Esha Rabi 4-0, 4-1 to claim the title.
In the U-16 final, Bilal Asim of SICAS had to struggle hard to beat spirited Asad Zaman 6-2, 6-1. Bilal Asim praised his coach Rashid Malik for the hard work, saying, “My coach Rashid Malik has been doing great work with me for the last couple of years and he wants me to become an international player and win international laurels for Pakistan.” Earlier in the U-16 first semifinal, Bilal Asim outsmarted Ahmad Nael 6-2, 6-0 while the marathon second semifinal saw Asad Zaman and Haider Ali Rizwan playing outstanding tennis and after a tough battle, Asad won the clash 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
In the U-14 semifinals, Hamza Roman had to struggle hard to beat talented Amir Mazari 6-4, 1-6, 10-2 while Hamza Ali Rizwan (LGS Paragon) outlasted Omer Jawad 6-0, 6-3. In the U-12 semifinals, Hamza Ali Rizwan record another convincing victory against emerging star Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates) 6-2, 6-4 while Omer Jawad also made into second final by beating talented Zohaib Afzal Malik 4-2, 4-1.
In U-12 doubles semifinals, Zohaib Afzal Malik/Abubakar Talha beat Arslan Khan/Anis Khan 4-0, 4-0. In the U-14 doubles final, Hamza Roman/Taimor Khan toppled Amir Mazari/Sameer Zaman 4-2, 4-0. In the U-10 quarterfinals, Hamza Sohail beat Maaz Shahbaz 4-0, 4-1, Inam Ali beat Ayyan Shahbaz 4-2, 4-0 and Shayyan Afridi beat Ahsan Bari 4-0, 4-0.
