The Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) continued on Monday at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad. The event carries special significance as it honours Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad, a respected former subcontinental tennis player.
Strong international participation boosts competition
Organisers have welcomed 70 players from 23 countries to this ITF Futures event. The lineup features athletes from Pakistan, Sweden, Russia, China, USA, Japan, Italy, Great Britain, and several other nations.
Sweden’s Leo Borg leads the tournament as the top seed with an ATP ranking of 483. Algeria’s Samir Hamza Reguig holds the second seed position with a ranking of 844.
Pakistan earns praise for hosting international tennis
Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi praised the successful hosting of back-to-back ITF Pro Tour events in Islamabad. He said the events reflect Pakistan’s growing presence in international tennis.
He also assured players that they would receive world-class facilities and hospitality. In addition, he noted that participation from over 20 countries shows increasing trust in Pakistan as a reliable host.
Emotional tribute adds meaning to the event
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi highlighted the emotional importance of the tournament, which pays tribute to his grandfather, Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad. He described the event as a meaningful recognition of his grandfather’s contribution to regional tennis.
PTF Secretary General Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail also appreciated the strong international turnout. He said the participation reflects confidence in Pakistan’s tennis infrastructure and organisation.
Pakistani players advance to main draw
Pakistani players delivered strong performances in the qualifying rounds. Barkatullah, Muhammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar, and Ahmad Nael Qureshi all secured wins to move into the main draw.
Their progress adds local interest as the competition moves into the next stage.
Read more:Abubakar, Hamza clinch ITF Pakistan Tennis Championship title
Qualifying round produces competitive matches
Players from multiple countries competed in closely fought matches during the final qualifying round. Ivan Iutkin of Russia defeated fellow Russian Ivan Matveev 6-3, 6-1. Barkatullah overcame Canada’s Adam Farag-Cao, who retired during the match.
Alexey Dubinin, Adam Bajurko, Abhishek Bastola, and Artem Bukin also won their respective matches. These results highlighted the high level of competition throughout the qualifiers.
Main draw begins Tuesday
The main draw starts on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Organisers expect intense matches as players compete for ranking points and tournament progress.
