International junior events to be staged in Pakistan

PTF secretary says move will pave way for bigger tennis tournaments.

KARACHI:

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed that two international junior tournaments will be staged in Pakistan after the country was stripped of its right to host the Davis Cup round two Asia/Oceania tie, to be held on April 6, against Philippines due to security concerns.

The move comes partly as compensation after the Philippines tie was shifted to Manila and the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Secretary Mumtaz Yousuf said that the junior tournaments, which will take place in August and October this year, will be an opportunity to show that the country is safe to stage events.

Pakistan had to give up its hosting rights for the tie against Phillipines after the ITF expressed security concerns after the players were also forced to play their first-round tie against Lebanon away from home.

However, the development has pleased Yousuf, who said that the junior events can pave the way for bigger events and also motivate the players as each tournament offers ITF ranking points.

“It’s a big step,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “We are overlooking the fact that ITF was unfair in switching the Davis Cup tie to Manila.

“Now we have to gain ITF’s trust through these junior events. We really need to prove ourselves. It’s taken a lot of struggle and a lot of effort to convince the ITF.”

The secretary added that tennis is following the precedent set by the country’s squash federation that is also hosting grade III tournaments after being unable to stage any major international tournament since 2008.

Meanwhile, Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan, who also coaches junior players at his academy, said that the international tournaments will also change the way the sport is played in Pakistan.

“Any sort of international event is great news,” said Aqeel. “One can’t downplay the hype just because it’s for the juniors.

“We haven’t had a single international tournament since 2007 and that has ruined Pakistan tennis. Hosting these events will help us in the long run and that’s how India started hosting international events. Gradually they made a mark and today they host big events and producing talented players.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2012.