The Subh-e-Nau ITF Pakistan Junior International Tennis Championship (Leg-II) began today at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad, bringing together young talent from across the globe and putting Pakistan Junior Tennis in the spotlight.
A field of 22 boys and 19 girls from 15 countries including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Thailand took to the courts for first-round action.
Mrs Shahida Kausar Farooq, Chief Editor of Monthly Subh-e-Nau, inaugurated the opening ceremony and welcomed the participants, noting both the strong entry list and the challenges some teams faced due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and travel uncertainties. She thanked the Pakistan Tennis Federation for the event arrangements and emphasized Subh-e-Nau’s three-decade commitment to youth development through sports and community activities.
Mrs Farooq highlighted the value of international competition at home for local prospects and recalled past participants who later rose to prominence, including Sania Mirza, Thailand’s twin brothers and Pakistan’s Nida Wasim. She expressed confidence that this edition will continue to unearth and nurture future tennis stars for Pakistan Junior Tennis.
In boys singles first-round results, Hugo Bailey (NED) defeated Arham Tariq (PAK) 6-0, 6-1. Sarp Akan Ercan (TUR) beat Hao Yi Zhang (CHN) 7-6(3), 3-1 ret. Ruoyu Hua (CHN) overcame Masamune Matsumoto (JPN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Ho Wan Yeung (HKG) beat Inam Qadir (PAK) 6-0, 6-0 while Jayden Park (HKG) defeated Zohaib Afzal Malik (PAK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Heran Zhang (CHN) advanced via walkover against Kyoung Seo Lee (KOR) and Abdaar Ali (PAK) progressed with a walkover over Daniel Alwadi (CHN). Kinki Shi (HKG) beat M. Ahmad Afzal (PAK) 6-0, 6-0 and Jamie Chen (HKG) prevailed over M. Yahya (PAK) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Girls singles first-round play saw Yotong Lu (CHN) defeat Rino Shinden (JPN) 6-4, 6-3. Kiko Okuyama (JPN) beat Yeanna Chowdhury (BAN) 6-0, 6-0 and Yijia Wang (CHN) overcame Yuriko Michihiro 6-1, 6-3.
In boys doubles, Ruoyu Hua and Heran Zhang of China beat Hugo Bailey (NED) and Sarp Akan Ercan (TUR) 6-3, 6-0, while Jamie Chen (HKG) paired with Masamune Matsumoto (JPN) to defeat Kinki Shi (HKG) and Inam Qadir (PAK) 6-1, 6-1. Girls doubles saw Yijia Wang (CHN) and Yeanna Chowdhury (BAN) overcome Hinako Higaki (JPN) and Romasia Malik (PAK) 7-6(4), 6-2.
Organisers confirmed that remaining matches will resume tomorrow at 10:00 am, offering Pakistan’s junior players further opportunity to test themselves against strong international opposition and gain valuable ranking experience in front of a home crowd.
