The Bank of Punjab (BoP) Junior National Tennis Championship 2026 commenced on Sunday at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy, Nishtar Park, Lahore. Nearly 200 young players from across the country are competing in various age-group categories.
Organized under the auspices of the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), the championship has attracted some of Pakistan's most promising junior talent. The event is being held with full support from the Sports Board Punjab and the Bank of Punjab.
Opening Ceremony Scheduled
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Monday, with Punjab Minister for Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar set to inaugurate the event. Secretary Sports Punjab Fazl ur Rehman, Director General Sports Board Punjab Tariq Qureshi, senior officials of the Bank of Punjab, and PLTA representatives are also expected to attend.
PLTA Official Comments
PLTA Senior Executive Vice President Rashid Malik, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, lauded the support of the Sports Board Punjab and expressed gratitude to the Bank of Punjab for sponsoring one of the country's premier junior tennis events. He hoped that all the record number of participants will try to give their best to make the event challenging and exciting.
Day One Results
In the boys U-18 event, Ahmad Fareed Yawar outclassed Abdul Wahab Ghani 6-0, 6-0, while Aliyan Ali defeated Abdaar Ali 6-2, 6-4. Mahad Rashid overcame Abdullah Shahzad 6-1, 6-2 and Shayan Afridi secured a convincing 6-0, 6-3 victory over Shahzain Faisal.
The boys U-14 competition also witnessed impressive performances. Muhammad Muaz, Mahad Rashid, Daniyal Afzal Malik, Wali M. Hassan, Daniyal Abdullah, Muhammad Faizan, and Muhammad Daniyal all advanced to the next round after registering comfortable wins.
In the boys U-12 category, Behroze Maimoon, Muhammad Daniyal, Riyan Omer Khalil, Daniyal Abdullah, Muhammad Faizan, Wali M. Hassan, and Mustafa Zia progressed with dominant straight-set victories.
Significance of the Championship
With a large turnout of talented youngsters and strong institutional support, the championship promises a week of high-quality competition. It serves as an important platform for identifying and nurturing the future stars of Pakistan tennis.
