Tennis: Ball-boys eye national championship honour
Sindh Tennis Association to aid Murad, Shabbir in their ambitions.
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Teenage ball-boys Murad Khan and Aqeel Shabbir have clear makings of becoming Pakistan’s prominent tennis players in the future.
Coming from a humble background, born to immigrants Pashtun parents in Kaachi, the players only learnt to play the sport by watching the more privileged class practise at the Modern Club without ever knowing that one day they will be defeating the very players for whom they pitch the ball on the court.
Murad Khan won the Subhe Nau Championship that featured the country’s top players last week and lifted the under-18 singles trophy.
The 16-year-old from Anjum Colony earns his livelihood by picking up balls at the tennis court. However, his victory in the championship shows that talent surpasses the limitations of resources and economic class.
“I’ve been pitching balls to the players at the club ever since I can remember, I don’t know when I learnt the game,” Murad told The Express Tribune. “I have played 20 tournaments so far and I’ve always reached the quarter-finals at least. I don’t study because I work, and tennis is the only thing I’ve learnt on the job. The Sindh Tennis Association (STA) gave me the racquet and I started playing three years ago.”
Shabbir’s story carries a similar ring; both players are the first ones in their families to even pick up a sport and play it at the national and provincial level.
According to STA president Khalid Rehmani, the future of tennis in Pakistan lies with talented players like Murad and Shabbir. He said they would stick to the sport because it is their only hope unlike their more privileged counterparts who possess a sound education and have other career prospects.
“They are skillful and they have proved it by winning these tournaments,” said Rehmani. “We are trying to take them to Hyderabad now where they will compete against provincial champions. We have provided racquets and other gear to them for practising because they can’t afford it on their own. They have also been awarded Rs 10,000 each so that they remain motivated.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.
Teenage ball-boys Murad Khan and Aqeel Shabbir have clear makings of becoming Pakistan’s prominent tennis players in the future.
Coming from a humble background, born to immigrants Pashtun parents in Kaachi, the players only learnt to play the sport by watching the more privileged class practise at the Modern Club without ever knowing that one day they will be defeating the very players for whom they pitch the ball on the court.
Murad Khan won the Subhe Nau Championship that featured the country’s top players last week and lifted the under-18 singles trophy.
The 16-year-old from Anjum Colony earns his livelihood by picking up balls at the tennis court. However, his victory in the championship shows that talent surpasses the limitations of resources and economic class.
“I’ve been pitching balls to the players at the club ever since I can remember, I don’t know when I learnt the game,” Murad told The Express Tribune. “I have played 20 tournaments so far and I’ve always reached the quarter-finals at least. I don’t study because I work, and tennis is the only thing I’ve learnt on the job. The Sindh Tennis Association (STA) gave me the racquet and I started playing three years ago.”
Shabbir’s story carries a similar ring; both players are the first ones in their families to even pick up a sport and play it at the national and provincial level.
According to STA president Khalid Rehmani, the future of tennis in Pakistan lies with talented players like Murad and Shabbir. He said they would stick to the sport because it is their only hope unlike their more privileged counterparts who possess a sound education and have other career prospects.
“They are skillful and they have proved it by winning these tournaments,” said Rehmani. “We are trying to take them to Hyderabad now where they will compete against provincial champions. We have provided racquets and other gear to them for practising because they can’t afford it on their own. They have also been awarded Rs 10,000 each so that they remain motivated.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.