F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Top seed and Pakistan No. 5 young Yousaf got a flying start after defeating his strong and rival Rashid Khan in the opening match of the first Nazim Peshawar Floodlight Open Tennis Championship, which got under way here at Synthetic Tennis Courts of the Qayyum Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Nazim Peshawar Muhammad Asim Khan was the chief guest on this occasion who formally inaugurated the Championship in which more than 100 players are taking part in the Under-12 Boys Singles, Under-14 Singles, Men singles and doubles and Senior Doubles categories.
Chairman KP Tennis Association and known plastic surgeon Dr. Tahir, President DIG Saleem Khan Marwat, Secretary Umar Ayaz, Regional Sports Officer Peshawar Jamshed Khan Baloch and large number of spectators were also present.
In the opening match Yousaf Khan faced tough resistance against strong and senior rival Rashid Khan in the marathon three sets battle, the score was 3-6, 6-4 and 6-4. The match lasted for two hour and 33 minutes with a good number of spectators witnessed the match under the newly installed floodlight facilities at the Two Synthetic Courts.
Yousaf, who also won the KP Tennis Open title, last week, played well against his much experienced rival Rasheed Khan in the marathon three sets final and received cheering responses from the sitting spectators. Yousaf has full control over his strong services and baseline smashes with some fine cross court smashes were also witnessed.
Rasheed Khan played well against his young rival Yousaf and despite winning the first set at 3-6, he failed to continue his attacking rhythm and lost two consecutive sets by 6-4 and 6-4. In the other matches of the Men singles Ejaz Ahmad khan of KP Police beat Shakir Ullah of KP by 6-1 and 6-1 in a one-sided affair. Israr Gul, a veteran player, and ITF title winner, played well against his young upcoming rival Farhan Khan and marched into victory at 6-2 and 6-4.
Abbas Khan of KP stunned top seeded player Aqib Umar of SNGPL in straight sets, the score was 6-3 and 6-3, Saqib Hayat of SNGPL beat Mubarak Shah of PAF by 6-3 and 6-2, top seeded Barkat Ullah of KP Police beat Janzaib Khan of Wapda by 6-2 and 6-4, Shoaib Khan of PAF beat Shehryar khan of KP by 6-2 and 6-2. In the other match Asad Ullah of Afghanistan defeated Imran Gul by 6-1 and 6-2. All the winners moved to the quarter-finals of the Men singles.
Speaking on this occasion, Nazim Peshawar assured the players that all out resources would be utilized to facilitate them during different events being organized by the District Govt in the Holy month of Ramadan. He also lauded Directorate of Sports KP for installed floodlight facilities on all sports venues by ensuring playing facilities to the players during night time as well.
He said the District Govt have tried hard to provide best available facilities to the youth in all games and that is why got the initiative of holding different sports events in Ramadan as well.
