LAHORE: The Bank of Punjab Junior National Tennis Championship 2025 officially commenced on Thursday at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, amidst a vibrant and well-attended opening ceremony.
The tournament was inaugurated by Mr Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), Senior Executive Vice President of the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), who graced the occasion as the chief guest. Also present were Mr. Omer Dilshad, Mr. Mehboob Waheed, and Mr. Faheem Siddiqui, the tournament coordinator.
The ceremony began with the introduction of all participating players to the chief guest, who then proceeded to witness a men’s singles match, appreciating the talent and determination displayed by the young competitors. His presence and encouragement were a morale booster for the budding tennis stars competing for national glory.
More than 20 matches were played on the opening day of the championship across various age categories, with top seeds asserting their dominance and progressing comfortably to the second round.
In the boys’ U-18 category, M. Omar Ali overcame a tough challenge from Ahad Usman, winning 3-6, 6-3, 3-1 (retired). Zohaib Afzal Malik delivered a flawless performance, defeating Zayd Zaman 6-0, 6-0, while Ohad-e-Mustafa cruised past Reehan Khan with a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Omer Jawad also advanced, outplaying Junaid Khan 6-1, 6-2 in a commanding display.
The boys’ U-14 category also witnessed exciting matches. Ahmad Fareed Yawar secured a win over Ahmad Khuda Bakhsh with a scoreline of 4-0, 1-0 (retired), and Ibraheem Gill outclassed Ali Muntazim 4-0, 4-0. Aliyan Ali defeated M. Ehsan Bari 4-0, 4-1, while Ohad-e-Mustafa showed his versatility by defeating Shazain Faisal 4-1, 4-1. In the final notable match of the day, Omer Zaman triumphed over Hamza Ali Jutt with an impressive 4-1, 4-0 score.
