Pakistan tennis — back from the dead

Aisamul Haq, the country’s most recognised player, led his team to a thrilling win in the tie against Chinese Taipei

After almost a decade of disappointment, Pakistan tennis has clawed back into contention by securing a berth in group one of the prestigious Davis Cup. Aisamul Haq, easily the country’s most recognised player, led his team to a thrilling win in the tie against Chinese Taipei. He secured the decisive reverse singles tie to ensure Pakistan regains a slot among the top-ranked tennis nations although access to the Davis Cup World Group remains a distant dream. The Lahore-born was a picture of determination in his Herculean battle against Jui-Chen Hung, which he won in four hours of breath-taking tennis, delighting the entire tennis fraternity.

Here it is pertinent to note that both Aisam and his partner Aqeel Khan have been torchbearers of Pakistan tennis for more than a decade now and their success is largely due to their own individual efforts. The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is afflicted by the same woes faced by most other sporting bodies in the country, and remains fractious and incompetent. A paucity of funds is another major impediment to the sport’s growth and Aisam’s success in the doubles circuit is mainly due to the support he receives from his family. While a few talented youngsters have emerged recently, they face an uncertain future. Considering the extensive demands of the professional set-up, these players would need to show extraordinary skills and resilience to survive, let alone succeed. The Davis Cup success can potentially be a tonic for the plummeting fortunes of tennis in Pakistan. Regaining a spot in group one is a shot in the arm for the sport and one hopes that the PTF builds upon this achievement. Around the world, tennis has turned into a money-churning industry. Pakistan is nowhere in the running and must elicit the support of the corporate sector to make the sport a lucrative one. There is a dire need of professional tennis academies and coaches in the country, as well as the need to develop talent that could one day take the place of Aisam and Aqeel since their days at the highest level are surely numbered.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.