Islamabad, March 16, 2025: Pakistan claimed a historic bronze medal at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters 45+ World Championship after defeating Germany 2-1 in the third-place playoff on Sunday, according to the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF).
The prestigious tournament, held in Manavgat, Turkiye, featured 21 nations competing in the Men’s 45+ category, known as the Dubler Cup. Making their debut in the event, Pakistan delivered a stellar performance, dominating the group stage with emphatic 3-0 victories over Romania and the host nation, Turkiye.
Led by captain Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, alongside Aqeel Khan and Shehryar Salamat, Pakistan displayed remarkable resilience throughout the competition. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the Czech Republic 2-1, securing a place in the final four. However, in a hard-fought semifinal battle against France, the team narrowly lost 2-1, despite an epic singles victory by Aqeel Khan. The decisive doubles match saw France edge out Pakistan, preventing them from reaching the final.
Pakistan rebounded strongly in the third-place match against Germany, emerging victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. While Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi had to retire from his singles match, Aqeel Khan delivered a commanding singles win. The duo then joined forces in the decisive doubles match, securing Pakistan’s bronze medal in their maiden appearance at the event.
With the team competition concluded, Pakistan’s players will now turn their focus to the individual events in the second week of the championship, aiming for further success on the international stage.
