Pakistan’s 2016 tennis calendar promises exciting spectacles and increased competitiveness in the Davis Cup’s Asia-Oceania Group I as the team will be pitted against India — after nine years — along with four other nations after registering a stellar 3-2 win against Chinese Taipei in their Group II final. Pakistan won after the 2010 US Open doubles finalist Aisamul Haq Qureshi overcame Chinese Taipei’s Jui-Chen Hung in the final rubber of the tie which not only decided the match, but also Pakistan’s future in Davis Cup. Aisam and Aqeel Khan — Pakistan’s most experienced player — now await Group I draws that will come out in October. Aisam, who led the team as captain, believes that playing their Davis Cup matches in Pakistan next year is imperative. “We’ve been stuck in Group II primarily because we’ve long been deprived of home advantage; it’s tough to play abroad every time,” he said. 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.
pk.shafaqna.com
