The second leg of the W15 World Women’s Tennis Championship concluded in Islamabad, with France’s Astrid Cirotte winning the women’s singles title while the Thailand-China pairing claimed the women’s doubles crown.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi said Pakistan had hosted an international tennis tournament carrying a prize purse of $15,000 for the first time.
He said the purpose of inviting international players to Pakistan was to showcase the country and send a message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful nation.
Qureshi added that the federation had organised 14 tennis tournaments during the year and planned to stage more international competitions in the future. He also stressed that sports other than cricket should receive greater support.
Ansar Junaid, chairman of the Junaid Family Foundation, said the championship had contributed to the promotion of women’s tennis and praised the participating players for their performances. He expressed hope that the next generation would achieve significant success for Pakistan in tennis.
US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker said the tournament featured high-quality tennis and expressed hope that the visiting players had enjoyed Pakistan’s hospitality. She highlighted the importance of sports diplomacy and said she was also looking forward to seeing Pakistani athletes compete at the Los Angeles Olympics.
In the women’s singles final, France’s Astrid Cirotte defeated Thailand’s Kamonwan Yodpetch after a three-set contest.
In the doubles final, Thailand’s Kamonwan Yodpetch and China’s Ru Shi Wu defeated the German-Uzbekistan pairing to win the title.
A total of 31 female players from 17 countries participated in the tournament. Prizes were distributed among the champions and runners-up during the closing ceremony.