Pakistan’s tennis future looks bleak: Aqeel

Country’s number one player urges federation to take radical steps.

KARACHI:

Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan believes that the country’s tennis future does not sound promising unless the federation took drastic measures to improve the state of the sport.

Aqeel, who recently played the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II tie against South Korea where Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat, said that the country’s tennis is lagging behind as there was a lack of backup players.

Aqeel further emphasised that the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has been depending on him and Aisamul Haq Qureshi for the past 12 years and not prepared a pool of players to take the sport forward.

“South Korea have a lot of potential,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “Our tennis might just end once Aisam and I retire.

“They have eight players ready to replace their national champions, while Pakistan are dependent on just two players. This way we will not improve.

“Random announcements by the PTF will not help,” added Aqeel, who was also critical of the way a 15-day camp was organised just before the Davis Cup ties.

Aqeel said that the PTF needs to start utilising the 12-court tennis complex in Islamabad.

“The courts aren’t being utilised,” said Khan. “There are no coaches. The PTF needs to understand that in order to produce professional players, they need to facilitate them.

“They can’t just pick a few players and teach them how to play in a few days. This means the federation doesn’t understand the sport. They need to take urgent and drastic steps.”

Aqeel advances at Aisamul Haq Masters

Meanwhile on the court, Aqeel Khan dominated the opening day of the Aisamul Haq Masters Tennis Championship 2011 as he comfortably sailed into the second round of the tournament. The country’s number one player defeated Ahmed Chaudhry 6-1, 6-1. Second-seed Jalil Khan outplayed Asim Shafik 6-2, 6-2 while Mohammad Abid overcame Munir Ashiq 6-0,6-4 and Yasir Khan defeated Hassan Riaz 6-1,6-1 in the first round. The tournament is featuring the country’s top 16 players in men’s singles, under-18, under-14 and women’s singles events. The competition will conclude on July 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2011.