Aisam calls for India peace match
Aisam writes to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calling for "tennis for peace."
KARACHI:
Pakistan tennis star Aisamul Haq Qureshi has resumed calls for a peace match on the Indian border to foster reconciliation efforts between the two South Asian rivals.
Qureshi, whose doubles pairing with Indian star Rohan Bopanna has been dubbed the "Indo-Pak Express", wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calling for "tennis for peace."
The star's father Ihtesham said that Aisam had made the request as a "unique effort to promote peace".
Qureshi and Bopanna, currently 17th in the ATP world doubles rankings, made headlines around the world when they reached the final of last year's US Open.
"They floated the idea after the US Open. We hope Pakistan will take the initiative," said Qureshi.
Unveiling the idea last year, the pair said they wanted a net strung across the Wagah border crossing, as part of a "Stop War Start Tennis" campaign.
Qureshi last year said the International Tennis Federation and Peace and Sport, a charity run by Prince Albert of Monaco, supported the idea and had also written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Pakistan tennis star Aisamul Haq Qureshi has resumed calls for a peace match on the Indian border to foster reconciliation efforts between the two South Asian rivals.
Qureshi, whose doubles pairing with Indian star Rohan Bopanna has been dubbed the "Indo-Pak Express", wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calling for "tennis for peace."
The star's father Ihtesham said that Aisam had made the request as a "unique effort to promote peace".
Qureshi and Bopanna, currently 17th in the ATP world doubles rankings, made headlines around the world when they reached the final of last year's US Open.
"They floated the idea after the US Open. We hope Pakistan will take the initiative," said Qureshi.
Unveiling the idea last year, the pair said they wanted a net strung across the Wagah border crossing, as part of a "Stop War Start Tennis" campaign.
Qureshi last year said the International Tennis Federation and Peace and Sport, a charity run by Prince Albert of Monaco, supported the idea and had also written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.