Aqeel wins 15th Air Staff title

Seasoned player wants PTF to provide basic facilities to players in Peshawar.

KARACHI: Top seed Aqeel Khan won his record-breaking 15th trophy of the Air Staff Khyber Cup Open Tennis Championship singles event in Peshawar on Wednesday.

Aqeel, who also topped the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) tennis rankings issued on Wednesday, defeated his fellow Davis Cup player Muhammad Abid 6-3, 6-3 in an hour-and-five-minute to clinch the title.

He said that winning the 15th trophy of the Air Staff Championship was an honour, while adding that it was heartening for him to play in Peshawar and wanted to see tennis thrive in the city.

“It’s amazing, I’m humbled and I feel very much at home now,” said Aqeel.

“I can still recall my first title here back in 1999, I remember that I was very excited.

“Now after winning the 15th trophy of this tournament, I’m hoping that the young players in Peshawar will come forward.”

Aqeel further stated that winning the final had not been an easy task as Abid played aggressively.

“It was a good match as we were playing on a new court,” said Aqeel.

“We played on a grass court so I had the advantage. Abid also played well, but I guess I availed the chances at the right time. I was lucky that way.”

Meanwhile, the top seed said that as a tennis professional, he felt that Peshawar players should be given basic facilities to improve their game. According to him, Peshawar has produced some talented players in the past, but in order to promote the youngsters and the sport, the PTF needed to open an academy in Peshawar.

“There is a lot of talent especially at the junior level,” said Aqeel.

“The U14 players that I’ve seen have the potential, but there is no tennis court of quality in Peshawar.

“These players don’t even have the basic facilities. I wish they can have academies here and at least three to four synthetic courts so that players can start playing proper tennis.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2014.

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