KARACHI: Top seed Aqeel Khan got off to a flying start in Subh-e-Nau National Hard Court Tennis Championship 2017 beating Israr Gul in his opening match at PSB Sports Complex Tennis Courts in Islamabad on Sunday. Davis Cupper and number one Pakistani player for more than a decade Aqeel defeated Gul easily by a score of 6-2, 6-3 in men’s singles event. Aqeel’s younger brother Yasir Khan also won his match against Shahid Afridi in an easy contest and cemented his place in second round. Others who qualified for the second round of this category included Abdal Haider, Barkatullah, Shahzad Khan, Raja Shahid, Muzammil Murtaza, Mudassar Murtaza, Rik Van Grewen, Ahmed Asjad, Heera Ashiq, Ahmed Ch, Asadullah, Ikramullah, M. Abid and Usman. In Boys U-18 first round matches, Izhar Iftikhar played well against Zalan Khan to qualify for the next round. Other players who joined him in the second round, include Saqib Umer, Hamza Bin Rehan, Subhan Bin Salik, Aqib Umer, Sami Zeb, Musa Ch and Ahmed Asjad.First round matches of ladies singles and Boys U-14 events were also played. First round matches of ladies singles and Boys U-14 events were also played, while the First round matches of ladies singles and Boys U-14 events were also played. In ladies event, Amal Rauf Rathore and Mahnoor Sohail eased into second round after getting walkovers against their respective opponents. Mahvish Chishtie blanked Sara Bano by 6-0, 6-0 score while Shahida Kausar defeated Shireen Warraich by a score of 6-2, 6-2. Noor Rauf Rathor and Nida Akram also won their respective matches.