Subh-e-Nau Tennis:- Aqeel, Natasha clinch titles

KARACHI, July 15, 2008: Top seed Aqeel Khan defeated his younger brother Jaleel Khan to clinch the Subh-e-Nau National Tennis Cup crown here at Modern Club Tennis Courts on Tuesday.

Jaleel Khan, who overpowered second seed Asim Shafik in semis could not maintain upset spree against Aqeel. Jaleel lost to big brother first 6-2, however, he shown showed some resistance in second set, but it was not enough to overcome Aqeel. Jaleel lost second set by 7-6 (3).

Both the brothers had clinched the doubles title of the tournament on Monday.

In ladies final fourth seed Natasha Afridi beat third seed Saba Aziz from Lahore. Saba, who was considered favorite after she overpowered top seed Sara Mansoor in semis, fell to wonderful Natasha 6-1, 6-1. Natasha did not let Saba play her natural game at any stage of the game. Natasha has already won the doubles title pairing with Mehak Khokhar posing a defeat to top seed Sara Mansoor and second seed Saba Aziz.

With this victory, Natasha has completed two consecutive title victories in a row here at Karachi. She has already won Subh-e-Nau National Hard Court Championship last week by beating top seed Sara Mansoor in Final.

In Boys' Junior U-17 final Zohair Raza lost to Heera Ashiq 1-6, 0-6 while in U-13 category Kashan-ul-Haq from Haq family became the champion by beating Ali Muraj 6-3, 6-0.

Post match ceremony was held after men’s singles final on Tuesday evening, in which Mrs. Shahida Kauser Farooq, Chairperson Subh-e-Nau, distributed awards among the winners. Aqeel Khan, Singles event winner, was awarded with rupees 33 thousand and a trophy, while his runners up Jalil Khan got Rupees twenty thousand. Ladies singles title winner Natasha Afridi was given rupees twenty thousand, while, her runners up player Saba was awarded with a cash prize of rupees 12 thousand. On this occasion, Mrs. Shahida Kauser Farooq greeted tournament committee for making two tournaments successful.