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KARACHI: Dr. Syed Kaleem Imam, president of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), has said the country had enormous potential in the game and despite financial constraints the body was providing them competition at the grassroots level to groom for future.
“Since coming at the helm of affairs little over a year back, the PTF has chalked out short and long term plans for four years and was confident that these will pay desired results in the days to come,” he told newsmen at a press conference at Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday.
Tennis officials Khawaja Saeed Hai, Saeed Ahmed and Khalid Rehmani were present on the occasion.
Kaleem, who has been posted as deputy police commissioner operations at the UN mission in Darfur, said inviting two foreign coaches including an Indian for short stints, holding a number of national ranking tournaments across the country, sending team to Fed Cup at Hong Kong after a decade and then to China, revival of affiliated units, providing employment to a couple of up and coming players and enforcing grading system on the ITF pattern are some of the milestones which speak themselves.
The former IG Islamabad, who was here on a private visit, complimented the Pakistan team for winning Davis Cup first round tie against Lebanon in extremely difficult circumstances.
Responding to a question about rewarding country’s top player Aqeel Khan, who played anchor-sheet role in the triumph he said: “Aqeel will be paid 2,000 US dollars — 1,000 as appearance money and 1,000 as win bonus”. To a question, the PTF top official said he will apprise Sindh governor to allot a residential plot to Aqeel in view of his services for the country for over a decade.
As far as Aisam-ul-Haq is concerned, the PTF chief added that the legendary player will be rewarded 3,000 US dollars for the team’s success.
Asked would Pakistan press ITF for holding the next Davis Cup tie against Philippines at home from April 6-8 he said: “We will plead our case to ITF for holding the rubber at home as the atmosphere was conducive in the country. The security situation has improved a lot which is evident from the fact that teams and players have started visiting Pakistan,” he said. “But in case we fail to bring the tie, we’ll opt for neutral venue (grass court) including India”.—Anwar Zuberi
