The Subh-e-Nau ITF Pakistan Junior International Tennis Championship (Leg-II) began today at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad, bringing Pakistan Junior Tennis hopefuls together with international competitors. A total of 22 boys and 19 girls from 15 countries including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Thailand are taking part in the event.
Mrs Shahida Kausar Farooq, Chief Editor of Monthly Subh-e-Nau, inaugurated the opening ceremony and welcomed the large entry list while noting that a few players had to withdraw because of the ongoing Middle East conflict and travel uncertainties. She thanked the PTF management for the arrangements and praised Subh-e-Nau’s three-decade commitment to youth development, saying the ITF Juniors event gives Pakistan’s young players a valuable chance to face top international talent at home.
Mrs Farooq recalled past participants who went on to wider recognition, including Sania Mirza, Thailand’s twin brothers and Pakistan’s Nida Wasim, and expressed confidence that this year’s tournament will continue to uncover and nurture future tennis stars for Pakistan Junior Tennis.
In boys singles first round action Hugo Bailey (NED) defeated Arham Tariq (PAK) 6-0, 6-1, Sarp Akan Ercan (TUR) beat Hao Yi Zhang (CHN) 7-6(3) and Hao Yi Zhang retired at 3-1, Ruoyu Hua (CHN) overcame Masamune Matsumoto (JPN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, Ho Wan Yeung (HKG) beat Inam Qadir (PAK) 6-0, 6-0, Jayden Park (HKG) defeated Zohaib Afzal Malik (PAK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, Heran Zhang (CHN) advanced by walkover against Kyoung Seo Lee (KOR), Abdaar Ali (PAK) progressed by walkover against Daniel Alwadi (CHN), Kinki Shi (HKG) beat M. Ahmad Afzal (PAK) 6-0, 6-0, and Jamie Chen (HKG) defeated M. Yahya (PAK) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
In girls singles first round Yotong Lu (CHN) defeated Rino Shinden (JPN) 6-4, 6-3, Kiko Okuyama (JPN) beat Yeanna Chowdhury (BAN) 6-0, 6-0, and Yijia Wang (CHN) overcame Yuriko Michihiro 6-1, 6-3.
Boys doubles opening matches saw Ruoyu Hua and Heran Zhang (CHN) beat Hugo Bailey (NED) and Sarp Akan Ercan (TUR) 6-3, 6-0, while Jamie Chen (HKG) paired with Masamune Matsumoto (JPN) to defeat Kinik Shi (HKG) and Inam Qadir (PAK) 6-1, 6-1. In girls doubles Yijia Wang (CHN) and Yeanna Chowdhury (BAN) beat Hinako Higaki (JPN) and Romasia Malik (PAK) 7-6(4), 6-2.
Court play will continue tomorrow with matches scheduled to start at 10:00 am as the Pakistan Junior Tennis event moves into the next round of competition at the PTF Tennis Complex.
