Pakistan’s Abubakar Talha and Russia’s Varvara Rubtsova became the ITF J-30 Lahore winners after securing the boys’ and girls’ under-18 singles and doubles titles as the Ali Embroidery Mills International Junior Tennis Championship 2026 concluded on Friday at Aitchison College in Lahore.
Boys’ finals stay in Pakistani hands
The boys’ singles final was an all-Pakistan contest. Abubakar overcame compatriot Hassan Usmani 7-6 (7-5), 6-0, steadying after a tight opening set and then taking firm control in the second. Hassan reached his first international junior final, a sign of deeper local talent coming through. Abubakar Talha tennis fans also saw him lift the doubles trophy with Hamza Roman, who together beat Ahtesham Humayun and Amir Mazari 6-3, 6-2.
Rubtsova sweeps the girls’ titles
Rubtsova won the girls’ singles crown 6-2, 6-2 against fellow Russian Stefaniila Vasilevskaia. She then completed a doubles brace with partner Evelina Dzepa, defeating Daixi Hu and Bismel Zia 6-0, 6-0. That left both girls’ U-18 titles with the Russian pair’s campaign in the city.
International junior tennis back after 25 years
Organisers said the championship marked the return of international junior tennis to Lahore after a gap of 25 years. The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) staged the ITF J-30 event — a junior ranking tournament under the International Tennis Federation, the global tennis body — with support from Ali Embroidery Mills. More than 42 players arrived from China, Kazakhstan, Australia, Russia, Bangladesh and other countries, giving Pakistani juniors a chance to face foreign opponents, build match experience and earn ranking points at home.
Ceremony and organisers’ outlook
Ali Embroidery Mills chief executive Tariq Zaman attended the closing ceremony as chief guest. Guests included Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, former Punjab sports secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman, Col (R) Asif Dar, Aitchison College director of sports Sajjad Rasool, Haider Ismail from the United States, Naseem Ahmed and Said Hassan, along with players and officials.
PLTA senior executive vice-president Rashid Malik, a Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz recipient, thanked sponsors and institutions for staging the event. He singled out Tariq Zaman for backing junior tennis and praised Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi for helping bring international junior competition back to Lahore. Malik said successive international tournaments — including ITF junior, Futures and women’s events — were an encouraging step for Pakistan tennis and should help local players raise their standards and rankings. He also thanked PLTA president Capt (R) Fazeel Asghar, the association’s management, the Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab, and Aitchison College principal Dr S. M. Turab Hussain for facilities and hospitality.
For families following junior sport in Punjab, the ITF J-30 Lahore winners underline that high-level junior matches are again being played in the provincial capital.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Lahore ke Aitchison College par ITF junior tennis ka tournament khatam ho gaya. Pakistan ke Abubakar Talha ne boys singles aur doubles dono jeet liye. Russia ki Varvara Rubtsova ne girls ke dono titles haasil kiye. Pachchees saal baad international junior tennis Lahore wapas aayi hai, jo local players ke liye achha mauqa hai.
