Abubakar Talha and Rubtsova win double titles at ITF J30 junior tennis event

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Abubakar Talha and Russia’s Varvara Rubtsova won the singles and doubles titles in the boys’ and girls’ under-18 categories respectively at the ITF J30 Ali Embroidery Mills International Junior Tennis Championship 2026, played at Aitchison College.

The tournament marks the successful return of international junior tennis to Lahore after a gap of 25 years.

In the boys’ singles final, Abubakar Talha beat fellow Pakistani Hasan Usmani 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. After a tough first set, Abubakar played superbly in the second to take the title. It was Hasan Usmani’s first appearance in an international junior final, a clear sign of the progress of emerging tennis talent in Pakistan.

Abubakar also added another title to his wins. Partnering Hamza Roman, he beat Ehtisham Humayun and Amir Mazari 6-3, 6-2 in the boys’ doubles final.

In the girls’ singles final, Russia’s Varvara Rubtsova beat her compatriot Stefanila Vasilevskaya 6-2, 6-2. Rubtsova also won the girls’ doubles, pairing up with Evelina Dezipa to beat Dai Shi Ho and Bisma Zia 6-0, 6-0, for her second success in the tournament.

The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Tariq Zaman, Chief Executive Officer of Ali Embroidery Mills. Those present included Pakistan Tennis Federation President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, former Punjab Secretary Sports Fazal-ur-Rehman, Colonel (retd) Asif Dar, Aitchison College Director Sports Sajjad Rasool, Haider Ismail from the United States, Naseem Ahmed and Saeed Hasan. A large number of players, officials and people associated with tennis also attended.

PLTA Senior Executive Vice President Rasheed Malik thanked all the sponsors and institutions whose support made the event a success. He particularly praised the services of Tariq Zaman and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. He said that, under their leadership, international junior tennis had been revived in Lahore, which was very welcome for the future of Pakistani tennis.