Srinagar Open Tennis Championship commences
Srinagar: The Srinagar Open Tennis Championship commenced on Friday at the Gindun Tennis courts, Rajbagh, featuring 16 competitive matches on the opening day.
While most matches went according to form book, the tournament’s first day was highlighted by Mohammad Qais making debut on senior circuit.
The 13-year-old budding player lost the opening match against veteran player Gurmit Singh.
However, Qais staged a comeback by defeating Irfan Bhat in a tie breaker after the two players wer locked at 7-7.
The Group ‘C’ featuring Qais was thrown wide open after Irfan Bhat defeated Gurmit Singh.
In Group B, Dilbagh Singh — who was runner up in last year’s tournament — will meet Rouf Ahmad for a place in knockout stage tomorrow.
Both Singh and Ahmad won their respective singles matches against Shadab Mir.
Mir ended his run in the Single’s event with a consolation win over Uzair Ahmad.
In Group ‘A’, Mir Jameel defeated Bittu Singh while in Group ‘D’, defending champion Inayat Jehangir sailed into the knockout stage with three clinical wins.
In the double’s event, Sajad Bhat and Rouf Ahmad defeated Talat Ahmad and Tufail Bhat in the opener. Sajad and Rouf went on to beat Gurmit Singh and Shadab Mir in the second match.
Mir Jameel paired with Danish to register a win against Asif Nowsheri and Tahafuz Ilahi.
Dilbagh Singh and Inayat Jehangir beat the pair of Talat and Tufail to kick start their double’s campaign.
The championship, organised by the District Lawn Tennis Association in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association, has established itself as a significant event in Kashmir’s tennis calendar.
