PESHAWAR
The 7th edition of the Director General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Open Tennis Championship got underway here at Synthetic Tennis Courts of the Qayyum Sports Complex on Monday.
Senior Vice President of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tennis Association Dr. Farhat Abbas formally inaugurated the Championship. Secretary KP Tennis Association Umar Ayaz Khalil was also present on this occasion.
During the opening day matches, Shaharyar Khan beat Faisal Khan by 6-2 and 6-2 in the Men singles event while Tahir Ullah of PAF beat Maaz Khan 6-0 and 6-0, Hassan Khan shocked Shah Hussain in a thrilling match lasted for two hours, the score was 6-4 and 6-3, Yousaf Khalil of PAF, seeded 3, recorded victory against Azhar Khan 6-1, 6-1.
Dr. Farhat Abbas, a known cardiologist, said that the aim and objective of the Championship is to provide much needed competitive exposure to the players who are playing in the national ranking. He also congratulated Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for inclusion of the 14-year-old Hamza Roman, hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to become 8th seeded in the forthcoming Asian Tennis Federation Championship, to be played Wapda Sports Complex under the aegis of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF). Players from all across Asia including India are taking part in the Championship, Dr. Farhat Abbas said. He said the Championship is a prestigious event wherein legendary player Aqil Khan, if available in Pakistan, will also play side-by-side against other players.
The Championship, he said, will carry Rs. 150,000 cash prize besides trophies, certificates would also be awarded to the position holders in various age group categories of the Junior and senior event. He said it is expected that more than 200 players would vie for the top honor in Men singles, Men doubles, Boys U16 singles, Boys U12 Singles and Boys U8 singles.
He also appreciated Nouman Khan, Zakir Ullah, Shaharyar Khan, Shah Hussain and Roman Gul for supervising the Championship. Dr. Farhat said every player in the age group will be showing his form-B to ascertain his age group and without form-B no player would be entertained.
He said players from Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Police, SNGPL, Pakistan Wapda, Khyber Bank and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will compete in different categories. He said, Pakistan No. 3 Shoaib Khan, hailing from historical Nawa Khali, who recently represented Pakistan in Davis Cup in Austria along with two legendary tennis players Aisam Ul Haq and Aqil Khan, is the top seed in the Men singles besides players including Pakistan No. 5 Yousaf Khalil, Pakistan No. 6 Barkat Ullah, ranked 9 Saqib Umar and Afghanistan No. 1 Asad Ullah.
In the Junior International players Hamid Israr, Kashan Umar, Aqib Umar, Uzair Khan will also be competing in the Men singles. International tennis players Hamza Roman and Shasawar Khan, Arsalan Khan, Talha Khan will vie the top honor in the U16 age group category. In the U12 Muhammad Shayan Afridi is currently Pakistan No. 1, Zohaib Amjad is 3rd seeded, Faizan Afridi, Muhammad Reyan, Salar Khan, Reyan Umar will compete.
He said, Chairman KP Tennis Association Professor Dr. Tahir, President KP Tennis Association DIG Muhammad Saleem Marwat, former sports minister Syed Aqil Shah would grace the final and prize distribution ceremony. He said Accountant General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Murtaza Khan will be the chief guest at the final.
