Pakistan Juniors qualify for main round in Davis Cup
Team qualifies for the main round
Pakistan remained undefeated on their run to the final and lost only to number two seed Vietnam 3-0 at the last hurdle, after having defeated top seeds Kazakhstan 2-1 in the semi-finals. STOCK IMAGE
KARACHI:
While tennis remains one of the under-achieving sports for Pakistan, the biggest surprise performance this month has been the qualification of the U16 team for the main round of the Junior Davis Cup.
Pakistan remained undefeated on their run to the final and lost only to number two seed Vietnam 3-0 at the last hurdle, after having defeated top seeds Kazakhstan 2-1 in the semi-finals.
For 15-year-old Muhammad Raza Sawani, the tournament in Malaysia was not just about winning, but also about learning important lessons in life.
“This tournament taught me a lot of things,” Raza told The Express Tribune. “It was my first time at an international tournament, but the life lesson I learnt was to stay disciplined and adapt quickly.”
The teenager made his international debut in the event last month and feels that the biggest challenge for him as a Karachi-based player is the unavailability of any other surface besides hard courts, forcing him to learn to adapt at the event.
“Playing in Karachi means that we can only play on hard courts,” he said. “Even when I played in Islamabad, I took some time to get used to the clay courts and the weather. I now have to work on different surfaces and the Australian event will only get tougher, just the way the ties got more challenging in Malaysia.”
Meanwhile, coach and former Davis Cupper Asim Shafik said that Pakistan not only surprised other nations but also surprised themselves, which will improve the confidence of the team.
“I’m very proud of my players, in fact on paper, our team was weaker than last year’s,” said Asim. “We stunned our opponents, but my boys played out of their skins.”
He added that the junior trials for the third player to replace Aman Attique will take place before the camp in Islamabad, as Aman will be taking his exams.
Pakistan will play the Asia-Oceania zone qualifiers on April 8 in Australia.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
While tennis remains one of the under-achieving sports for Pakistan, the biggest surprise performance this month has been the qualification of the U16 team for the main round of the Junior Davis Cup.
Pakistan remained undefeated on their run to the final and lost only to number two seed Vietnam 3-0 at the last hurdle, after having defeated top seeds Kazakhstan 2-1 in the semi-finals.
For 15-year-old Muhammad Raza Sawani, the tournament in Malaysia was not just about winning, but also about learning important lessons in life.
“This tournament taught me a lot of things,” Raza told The Express Tribune. “It was my first time at an international tournament, but the life lesson I learnt was to stay disciplined and adapt quickly.”
The teenager made his international debut in the event last month and feels that the biggest challenge for him as a Karachi-based player is the unavailability of any other surface besides hard courts, forcing him to learn to adapt at the event.
“Playing in Karachi means that we can only play on hard courts,” he said. “Even when I played in Islamabad, I took some time to get used to the clay courts and the weather. I now have to work on different surfaces and the Australian event will only get tougher, just the way the ties got more challenging in Malaysia.”
Meanwhile, coach and former Davis Cupper Asim Shafik said that Pakistan not only surprised other nations but also surprised themselves, which will improve the confidence of the team.
“I’m very proud of my players, in fact on paper, our team was weaker than last year’s,” said Asim. “We stunned our opponents, but my boys played out of their skins.”
He added that the junior trials for the third player to replace Aman Attique will take place before the camp in Islamabad, as Aman will be taking his exams.
Pakistan will play the Asia-Oceania zone qualifiers on April 8 in Australia.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.