Iran players overcome Green Shirts 2-0 in the final, Jorden claim third position
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: Iran overcame hosts Pakistan straight 2-0 in the championship match of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group III (B) at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue, Islamabad on Saturday. The final was to start at 11.00 am, but a spell of rain in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad forced the match to be staged at 3:30 pm.
The local tennis girls lost their matches 2-0, but both Pakistani girls struggled hard to give opponent a challenge and fought hard in their respective matches. Iranian players proved stronger on the day to secure the victory and to claim the championship title.
The closing ceremony was graced by Syeda Amana Batool, Member of the National Assembly, as the chief guest, and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), attended as the guest of honour. Col. Zia-ud-Din Tufail, Secretary General PTF, and Asma Khawar Khawaja, President of the Pakistan Women Tennis Association, were also present.
Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, also visited the PTF Tennis Complex, where he met the Iranian team and witnessed the matches. Speaking on the occasion, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi congratulated the Iranian team on winning the championship and appreciated the Pakistan team for putting up a strong fight in the final.
Results and Team Positions:
Final: (Iran beat Pakistan 2–0):
Yasaman Yazdani (Iran) beat Ushna Suhail (Pakistan) 6–3, 6–4.
Meshkatolzahra Safi (Iran) beat Mahin Aftab Qureshi (Pakistan) 6–4, 6–4.
3rd–4th Position (Jordan beat Maldives 2–0):
Anna Abualhaj (Jordan) beat Nayara Usama Ali (Maldives) 7–6(4), 6–4.
Noor Sayej (Jordan) beat Aishath Karin Saizan (Maldives) 6–3, 6–7(4), 6–0.
5th–6th Position (Qatar beat Bhutan 2–0):
Khadija Gassama (Qatar) beat Kinley Yangden (Bhutan) 6–3, 6–0.
Hind Almudahka (Qatar) beat Tenzin Wangsel Lhaden (Bhutan) 4–6, 6–3, 6–0.
7th–8th Position (Kuwait were awarded a walkover against Bahrain).
