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Pakistan’s tennis team achieved a historic milestone by winning a bronze medal at the ITF Masters 45+ World Championship in Turkey, marking the country’s first-ever podium finish at the prestigious event.
Competing in the tournament for the first time, the Pakistani squad—led by captain Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and comprising Aqeel Khan and Shehryar Salamat—delivered impressive performances against some of the world’s top-ranked tennis nations.
The men’s team event, held in Manavgat, Turkiye, featured 21 competing nations in the 45+ age category, known as the Dubler Cup. Pakistan dominated the group stage with convincing 3-0 victories over Romania and the host nation, according to the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF).
In the quarterfinals, Pakistan secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic, advancing to the semifinals. Despite a setback in the final four, the team bounced back in the third-place match, defeating Germany 2-1 to claim the bronze medal.
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During the decisive clash, Qureshi had to retire from his singles match, but Aqeel Khan delivered a commanding singles win. The duo then teamed up for a crucial doubles victory, sealing Pakistan’s place on the podium.
Following this achievement, Pakistani players will now shift their focus to the individual events in the second week of the championship, the PTF confirmed.
