Muhammad Shoaib produced a memorable performance to capture the singles crown at the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 Championships 2026 held in memory of Late Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad. In a high-intensity final watched by an enthusiastic home crowd, Shoaib defeated Russia’s Nikita Ianin 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-2 to lift the title.
The victory is historic for Pakistan tennis: Muhammad Shoaib becomes the first Pakistani player in two decades, since Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan, to win an ITF Futures singles title. The result underlines the progress of domestic player development and the renewed opportunities created by hosting international events at home.
Seventy men’s players from 23 countries took part in the tournament, with competitors arriving from Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, the USA, Japan and other nations. The diverse entry list provided valuable international exposure for local players and an important chance to earn ranking points on familiar courts.
Speaking after the final, Shoaib thanked Almighty Allah and expressed his pride at delivering the win on home soil: “I thank Almighty Allah for this achievement and for giving me the opportunity to make Pakistan proud on home soil. It was an amazing final, and Insha’Allah I will continue this momentum.” He also acknowledged the support of the Pakistan Tennis Federation leadership.
Pakistan Tennis Federation President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Secretary General Zia-ud-din Tufail congratulated Shoaib and praised the federation’s player development efforts. Qureshi noted the significance of hosting international tournaments for giving local players ATP point opportunities and said the event, held in memory of his late grandfather Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad, was especially meaningful after Pakistani success in both singles and doubles. The federation thanked sponsors and media partners including PTV Sports, Myco and Geo Super, as well as the Islamabad Police, for their support.
Organisers also announced that the McDonald’s Pakistan ITF Championship 2026 began its qualifying rounds at the same venue, with the main draw scheduled to start on 5th May 2026. The result for Muhammad Shoaib is being hailed as a positive milestone for Pakistan tennis and a sign that local talent is ready to compete—and succeed—on the international stage.
