‘I want to be just like Federer’
13-year-old in Balochistan aiming to take part in foreign events.
KARACHI:
While Pakistan’s tennis performance on the international circuit leaves plenty to be desired, there is no shortage of ambition and 13-year-old Najeebullah is a perfect example of that.
The teenager, who has been taking part in the Quetta Club Tennis camp for three months, wants to emulate former world number one Roger Federer. His aim of becoming the first tennis player from Balochistan to feature in an international event will have to wait but Najeeb has started taking steps in the right direction.
Currently, he is training with 30 other participants, who will be shortlisted to 20 players for the Balochistan Tennis Championship that will start on June 3.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) coach Mohammad Ishaq, who will select the final participants for the provincial championship, said that tennis’ popularity has grown since players are now coming from remote areas like Khuzdar and Sibbi to participate in camps and tournaments.
For Najeeb, tennis is more than a game.
“I chose to play tennis because it’s a different game,” Najeeb told The Express Tribune. “I don’t need a team to play with and I feel more empowered when I play tennis. My friends play cricket or football but I play tennis because it’s more glamorous. I want to be just like Federer.”
According to Ishaq, who has been training junior players in Quetta Club for eight years, players have to struggle in order to pursue a tennis career since football, cricket and squash are the most popular sports in the province.
“Despite the fact that there are quality hard courts available, the game has not been as popular in the province because many people think that it is an expensive sport,” said Ishaq. “They can’t afford to send their children to Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad where most of the championships are held.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2011.
While Pakistan’s tennis performance on the international circuit leaves plenty to be desired, there is no shortage of ambition and 13-year-old Najeebullah is a perfect example of that.
The teenager, who has been taking part in the Quetta Club Tennis camp for three months, wants to emulate former world number one Roger Federer. His aim of becoming the first tennis player from Balochistan to feature in an international event will have to wait but Najeeb has started taking steps in the right direction.
Currently, he is training with 30 other participants, who will be shortlisted to 20 players for the Balochistan Tennis Championship that will start on June 3.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) coach Mohammad Ishaq, who will select the final participants for the provincial championship, said that tennis’ popularity has grown since players are now coming from remote areas like Khuzdar and Sibbi to participate in camps and tournaments.
For Najeeb, tennis is more than a game.
“I chose to play tennis because it’s a different game,” Najeeb told The Express Tribune. “I don’t need a team to play with and I feel more empowered when I play tennis. My friends play cricket or football but I play tennis because it’s more glamorous. I want to be just like Federer.”
According to Ishaq, who has been training junior players in Quetta Club for eight years, players have to struggle in order to pursue a tennis career since football, cricket and squash are the most popular sports in the province.
“Despite the fact that there are quality hard courts available, the game has not been as popular in the province because many people think that it is an expensive sport,” said Ishaq. “They can’t afford to send their children to Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad where most of the championships are held.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2011.