Pak players dominate Subh-e-Nau ITF Juniors 2026
- Aleem Chaudhry
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
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Abdul Aleem Chaudhry
Continuing its tradition of developing tennis in Pakistan, Subh-e-Nau organized the International Tennis Federation (ITF) from 13-17 April 2026 which featured local and international players who delivered memorable high-quality tennis for all to enjoy and appreciate.
Subh-e-Nau (SN) holds a dedication for supporting development and access to tennis for all, in hosting a range of international, national, and local tennis events for more than three decades. Since its inception in 1990, the organization has remained committed to identifying and promoting emerging talent, providing young athletes in Pakistan with opportunities to compete at both national and international levels.
Continuing this longstanding tradition, SN organized the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Pakistan Junior International Tennis Championship (Leg-II) in mid-April 2026 at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex in Islamabad. The event was successfully held from 13 to 17 April 2026, bringing together promising young tennis players from around the world in a highly competitive international environment. Once again, the championship reinforced Pakistan’s growing reputation as a reliable and capable host of international junior tennis events.
The tournament featured 41 players in total, including 22 boys and 19 girls, representing 15 countries: Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Thailand. Despite global travel disruptions and regional geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that led to a few withdrawals, the event maintained a strong international field and a high level of competitive spirit throughout.
The championship officially commenced on 13 April 2026 with an opening ceremony at the PTF Tennis Complex. Mrs. Shahida Kausar Farooq, Chief Editor of Monthly Subh-e-Nau magazine, inaugurated the event as chief guest. In her address, she expressed satisfaction over the strong international participation and appreciated the Pakistan Tennis Federation for its efficient arrangements and smooth conduct of the tournament. She highlighted that SN has been actively engaged in promoting tennis and youth development initiatives for over three decades, contributing meaningfully to sports development in Pakistan.
Mrs. Farooq emphasized that ITF Junior events serve as an important platform for local players to gain exposure against international opponents without the need to travel abroad. She noted that such competitions help bridge experience gaps and elevate the competitive standards of Pakistani players. Recalling the event’s legacy, she mentioned past participants such as Sania Mirza and other international players who went on to achieve global recognition, expressing confidence that the current edition would similarly help nurture future tennis stars.
As the tournament progressed into the main rounds, the matches held on 16 April 2026 produced intense and closely contested encounters across all categories. In the Boys’ Singles semifinals, Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig delivered a strong performance, defeating compatriot Abubakar Talha in a hard-fought three-set match, 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-4. In the other semifinal, Sri Lanka’s Ganuka Fernando overcame Pakistan’s Amir Mazari 6-1, 6-4, setting up a Pakistan–Sri Lanka final.
The Girls’ Singles semifinals featured dominant performances from Chinese and Russian players. Varvara Rubtsova of Russia defeated China’s Yijiia Wang 6-4, 6-1, while Zhiyu Zhou of China secured her place in the final with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over compatriot Zihan Feng.
In the doubles categories, the competition remained equally strong. The Boys’ Doubles final lineup saw Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig and Ahtesham Humayun defeat fellow Pakistanis Zohaib Afzal Malik and M. Yahya 6-3, 6-4. On the other side, Sri Lanka’s Ganuka Fernando and Hong Kong’s Jayden Park overcame the Japan–Hong Kong pair Jamie Chen and Masamune Matsumoto 6-2, 7-5 to reach the final. In the Girls’ Doubles semifinals, Chinese and mixed Asian-European pairs delivered impressive performances, with Varvara Rubtsova (Russia) and Safiia Urazalina (Kazakhstan) advancing to the final after a closely contested win.
The final day on 17 April 2026 featured thrilling championship matches. Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig emerged as the standout performer of the tournament, clinching the Boys’ Singles title with a commanding 6–1, 6–2 victory over Sri Lanka’s Ganuka Fernando. He further strengthened his remarkable run by partnering with Ahtesham Humayun to secure the Boys’ Doubles title, defeating the Sri Lankan–Hong Kong pair 6–1, 6–2.
In the Girls’ Singles final, China’s Zhiyu Zhou displayed exceptional form to defeat Russia’s Varvara Rubtsova 6–2, 6–1, securing the championship title. The Girls’ Doubles final proved to be the most closely contested match of the event, where Russia’s Varvara Rubtsova and Kazakhstan’s Safiia Urazalina overcame China’s Ai Teng and Zhiyu Zhou in a gripping encounter, winning 2–6, 6–1, (10–7).
The closing ceremony was graced by Brigadier Saleem, Director Administration of Mari Energies, as the chief guest, while Mrs. Shahida Kausar Farooq attended as guest of honor. Col. Gul Rehman, Director C&S of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, also participated and distributed prizes among winners and runners-up. The ceremony was well attended by players, coaches, parents, and tennis enthusiasts, reflecting strong public engagement and growing interest in the sport.
Sponsors including Bank Alfalah, Serena Hotel Islamabad, Mari Energies, Arif Habib Group of Companies, and SN were acknowledged for their continued support in promoting junior tennis in Pakistan.
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