Aqeel, Maheen Reign Supreme In Saeed Hai Tennis Event |
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03-Dec-2011
The News
Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Schoolgirl Maheen Dada on Friday recorded one of the biggest triumphs of her career when she toppled top seed Mehek Khokhar to clinch the ladies singles title at the inaugural Saeed Hai National Ranking Tennis Championship here at the Karachi Gymkhana.
With her family and friends cheering for her, the 13-year-old Maheen played with grit and determination to beat Mehek in straight sets. Maheen’s victory overshadowed Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan’s title-winning triumph in the men’s singles event. Aqeel, one of Pakistan’s leading Davis Cuppers, proved too good for his younger brother Yasir in a straight forward win in the men’s final. Aqeel, who won 6-0, 6-4, walked away with a cash purse of Rs50,000.
For Aqeel, it was a double crown in the Rs208,000 tournament as he also clinched the men’s doubles title with experienced partner Rashid Malik. The Aqeel/Rashid pair defeated Nomi Qamar and Waqas Malik 6-2, 6-2.
Earlier, Maheen fought valiantly to win the opening set 7-6 on a tie-breaker against Islamabad’s Mehek, ranked number five in Pakistan. She continued to give her best and produced a series of winners to win the second set 7-5 to win the ladies crown that came along with a winners’ purse of Rs20,000.
The tournament was sponsored by Sindh Sports Board as a tribute to legendary tennis player Saeed Hai, a former Pakistan Davis Cup captain and coach. Hai is the first Pakistani and Muslim to have featured in three Grand Slam events.
“I feel honoured today,” said Hai while speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the tournament at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday. “I won my first ever national tennis title at the Gymkhana almost 60 years ago and since then it is like second home to me.”
Final results: Men’s singles: Aqeel khan bt Yasir Khan 6-0, 6-4. Ladies singles: Maheen dada bt mehek khokhar 7-6, 7-5. Men’s doubles: Aqeel khan/Rashid Malik bt Nomi Qamar/Waqas Malik 6-2, 6-2. Men’s 45 plus doubles: Rashid Malik/Imran Ahmed bt Zafar Hasan 6-2, 6-0. Boys’ under-14 singles: Go Mazhar by Nofil Kaleem 6-2, 6-2. |
