PTF looks to defend title in Indonesia

Tennis body backs Aisam, Aqeel for Islamic Solidarity Games.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) will be hoping to defending its title at the third Islamic Solidarity Games which will be held in Indonesia next month.

Pakistan had won the gold medal in 2005 by putting up a strong show against countries such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Kuwait and Algeria.

PTF Secretary Mumtaz Yousuf stated that the federation has sent names of nominated players to the organisers of the Games, but they were awaiting a confirmation from the Pakistan Olympic Association.

Yousuf said that ideally tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan should represent the country.

Aisam won a gold medal in the men’s singles event at the Games in 2005, while Aqeel claimed a bronze medal. Both players also won a gold medal in the men’s doubles’ event in the last edition of the Games.



“We want to send our players because we have the best talent among Muslim countries in the Games,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “We have yet to confirm a few details, but we have given our nominations to the organisers, and I’m confident that if we participate this year, we will successfully defend our title.”

The Games will be the second event in which Aisam and Aqeel will represent Pakistan as a doubles team after the disappointing result at the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II second-round tie against New Zealand.

“Aisam and Aqeel have always taken the responsibility of representing the team, and we have also decided to send Sara Mansoor and Ushna Suhail for the women’s event.”

The tennis squad will be a part of the Pakistan contingent.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2013.

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