ISLAMABAD: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) 12&U Team Competition South Asian Qualifying event concluded on Wednesday after an exciting climax to the Pakistan and India boys tie at PTF Complex on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s pair of Abu Bakar Talha and Mikheel Shahbaz Ali
Baig won 2-1 against India’s Aarav Chawla and Ojas Mehlawat after fighting back bravely from 2-6, 0-5 down in the deciding doubles match to win the 2nd set 7-5 and then taking the match tie-break 10-5.
In singles, Humza Roman defeated Ojas Mehlawat 6-4, 6-4, while Abu Bakar lost to Ojas Mehlawat 2-6, 0-6.
Both Pakistan and India have qualified for the next round of competition, taking place in Nur-Sultan Kazakhstan in November, this year.
In the girls’ event, Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 to qualify for Kazakhstan along with India, who finished the event unbeaten after comfortably defeating Nepal 3-0.
Former Federal Secretary and IG Police Iftikhar Rashid, who is the acting President of PTF, welcomed the teams, parents as well as dignitaries including the ambassadors of Nepal and Maldives, and the Charge de Affairs of the Indian High Commission. He thanked the chief guest Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary Petroleum for attending the closing ceremony. He also thanked Toyota-Indus Motors for sponsoring the event.