KARACHI: After an outstanding performance in Kuching, Malaysia, Pakistan’s U14 players created history by securing their spot in the World Group of the World Junior Tennis (WJT) Team Championship finals.
The teenagers confirmed their place in the U14 world finals after Hong Kong in the semifinal and Australia in the quarterfinal. The players will now face Japan in the final on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Talha outplayed Wong Selyn Tsz Yuen 6-3,6-2 in the semifinal tie’s first single’s rubber to take the lead, but Roman lost to Tam Sin Hang 6-1,6-1 as the result stood 1-1.
But both Talha and Roman made sure that they seal the win in the doubles with 7-5 (5), 6-4 agaisnt Fu Wang Choi and Hang.
In Quarterfinal, Pakistan defeated Australia which was a great achievement as the country has reached the World Group of the junior team event for the first time in 27 years. The last time a Pakistani junior team qualified for the finals was in 1996 which included Nomi Qamar, the late Ejaz Ahmed, Shahzeb Niazi, and Rashid Ahmed Malik as the captain in the team.
The event featured Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, Iran, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
In the group stage, Pakistan finished second after beating Iran and Indonesia while losing to Japan.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) praised the performance of the national team comprising Hamza Roman, Abubakar Talha, and Amir Mohammad Khan Mazari, who were ably led by Heera Ashiq.
Salim Saifullah Khan, the President of the PTF, congratulated the team, coaches, and management, and wished them the best of luck for the final.
