ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Salar Khan defeated Sri Lanka’s Aahil Khalil in a gripping encounter to advance to the second round of the ITF Pakistan World Junior Tennis Championships at the PTF here on Monday. Salar overcame Khalil in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. The victory came after a hard-fought battle, with Salar managing to maintain his composure under pressure in both sets. Three other local players also secured their places in the second round, with Talha Khan, Hamza Roman, and Nadir Mirza all emerging victorious in their respective matches. The ongoing tournament has attracted 47 junior players from across the globe, including 28 boys and 19 girls from countries such as Hong Kong, Japan, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Canada, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Maldives, and Singapore. In addition, 28 players from Pakistan, including 22 boys and six girls, are competing in the event. Danthai Takong (Thailand) bt M.Hamza Asim (Pakistan) 7-5, 6-4; Seung Woo Han (South Korea) bt Mohammad Ali (Canada) 6-1, 7-6 (3); M. Talha Khan (Pakistan) bt Yeonmu Jung (South Korea) 6-2, 6-2; Salar Khan (Pakistan) bt Aahil Khalil (Sri Lanka) 6-4, 7-5; Pathan Laosakulporn (Thailand) bt Shehryar Anees (Pakistan) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Sion Ji (South Korea) bt Abubakar Talha (Pakistan) 7-5, 6-3; Hamza Roman (Pakistan) bt Patcharaphol Leekul (Thailand) 6-4, 6-4; Teetawat (Thailand) bt Amir Mazari (Pakistan) 6-4, 7-5; Youngchae Oh (South Korea) bt M. Huzaifa Khan (Pakistan) 6-4, 7-5; Park Dohyun (South Korea) bt Asad Zaman (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-1; Ariyaphol Leekul (Thailand) bt M. Haider Ali Rizwan (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-1; Nadir Mirza (Pakistan) bt Jian Pyun (South Korea) 6-0, 6-0; So Yuna (South Korea) bt Haruhi Katsube (Japan) 6-1 ,6-1; Xiuyuan Guo (China) bt Ho Jun Park (South Korea) 6-2, 6-4.