Pakistan’s under-12 boys’ tennis team delivered a commanding performance on Thursday to defeat arch-rivals India 2-0 in the semifinals of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) U12 South Asia Championship, sealing a place in the final against hosts Sri Lanka.
On a day when nerves were expected given the history between the two countries, it was Pakistan’s young stars who rose to the occasion. Rashid Ali set the tone with a composed 6-2, 6-3 win over B.C. Thanush Shekar, before Muhammad Shayan Afridi hammered home the advantage with a ruthless 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Khatri Nayan to clinch the tie.
The semifinal clash of the ATF U12 South Asia Championship carried extra weight given the long-standing sporting rivalry between Pakistan and India, and the manner of Pakistan’s win—in straight sets and without drama—made the result all the more striking.
“This is a proud moment for Pakistan tennis,” said PTF President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, himself a former world-class doubles player. “Beating our arch-rival India in the semifinal is a tremendous achievement. Hopefully, tomorrow we will defeat Sri Lanka and lift the championship.”
Pakistan’s run to the title match has been nothing short of dominant. In the group stage, the team swept past Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal, winning each tie 3-0 without dropping a match. The win over India continues that perfect record.
With momentum firmly behind them, Pakistan will now face Sri Lanka in Friday’s final. The hosts will have home support, but Pakistan enters the clash full of confidence after dismantling the region’s top contenders.
Victory would mark a significant milestone for Pakistan tennis, underlining the growth of grassroots talent and offering a promising glimpse of the future.
Whether or not they lift the U12 South Asia Championship trophy, this group of under-12s has already made a statement: Pakistan is rising in South Asian tennis—and doing so in style.