Pakistan Tennis Federation: Newly-elected body to make several changes

Players excited by the new faces as change heralds positive steps.

KARACHI: National players expect good results from the new Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) body that was elected last week.

Pakistan’s number two singles player Yasir Khan said that with the new management, he expects better tournaments in the country.

“It’s good that the elections took place and we have a new body now,” Yasir told The Express Tribune. “We need quality tournaments. I played 12 events this year, but only four of them had good prize-money to offer. Usually tournaments are of poor quality, where the players have to spend more than what they get in return even if they win.”

Yasir said that the previous PTF management, ran by Kaleem Imam, was also helpful.

“The previous management tried their best, but now we have Khalid Rehmani as the secretary, so I’m expecting he would make big changes,” said Yasir.

Rehmani had been the Sindh Tennis Association president previously, and is popular for holding local tournaments on grass-roots level.

“I’m excited with his appointment because he knows the problems in the infrastructure and the players’ issues,” said Yasir.

Meanwhile Rehmani, who will be assisting new president Salim Saifullah Khan, said that PTF’s priority will be the players for the next four years.

“Firstly, we need a replacement for Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan,” said Rehmani.

“Our plan is to get new players and motivate the existing lot for improving. We don’t have a second line of players for Davis Cup after Aisam and Aqeel.”

Rehmani added that another major concern is the thin base of International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved technical officials and coaches.

“While we will hold the development series all over the country, we will also follow India’s example. We’ll get the funding to train at least 21 officials and coaches with ITF courses,” said Rehmani.

He said that another plan will be to make a tennis house in Islamabad and build plexi-play hard courts.

“The current one has only one hard court but we need to build international standard courts. Similarly we’ll build hostels for players to stay and train in Islamabad,” he said.

On the other hand, out-going president Imam said that he wanted to serve tennis and he is glad to see new people in the office. “We need new people every four years; we tried to set a healthy trend here,” said Imam.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th,  2014.

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