Aisam and Aqeel Clinch Historic Gold at ITF Masters World Championship

Pakistan’s veteran tennis stars, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan, added another chapter to their storied careers by securing the gold medal in the Men’s 45 Doubles category at the ITF Masters World Championship in Manavgat, Turkey.

The Pakistani duo entered the tournament as strong contenders and lived up to expectations, barely dropping games on their way to the final. After a first-round bye, Aisam-ul-Haq and Aqeel cruised past Okan Okyay & Lebit Umut Yurtoglu (6-0, 6-2) in the second round. In the quarterfinals, they overcame Philipp Heger & Aleksander Wrobel (6-3, 6-2) before delivering a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Carsten Groeger & Pedro Nieto Orellana in the semifinals.

The championship match proved to be their toughest test, as they took on Lari Kiiski (Finland) and Andreas Lindgren (Sweden). The opening set went down to the wire, with Aisam and Aqeel edging out a tense tiebreaker (13-11). However, they completely dominated the second set, winning 6-0 to seal the gold medal with scores of 7-6, 6-0 in emphatic fashion.

Reflecting on the historic win, Aisam-ul-Haq, who also serves as the President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), dedicated the victory to the nation as a gift for Pakistan Day (March 23) and Eid. Aqeel Khan echoed his sentiments, also dedicating the gold medal to the people of Pakistan as an Eid present.

Aqeel also made his mark in the singles event, securing a bronze medal after a hard-fought semifinal loss to Lari Kiiski (7-6 (5), 6-2).

Their dominant run to the title is yet another testament to their enduring class, skill, and exceptional chemistry on the court. This latest milestone further cements their status as legends of Pakistani tennis, having carried the nation’s hopes for decades.