I HAD an opportunity to be at the Centre Court on July 14 and watch in real time Wimbledon men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. The atmosphere at the Wimbledon was festive and the event was well-organised.

Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in three straight sets and impressed the spectators with his admirable tennis skills. I think Alcaraz has taken tennis to a new level of competitiveness with his dedication and hard work. The most important thing to note is that Alcaraz, who won the final, is just 21 years old and has already had two Wimbledon titles having won it first when he was only 20 years of age.

Pakistan is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of population, with about 240 million people, and more amazingly, two-thirds of them being aged 24 years or less. A young population is a great asset for any country, provided the young are properly guided to the correct path. Our country had in the past produced great sportsmen in cricket, hockey, squash, snooker and other sports. There is no reason why we cannot produce more of them. I am sure our youth is intelligent and hardworking. Pakistan has the potential to produce a sportsman like Alcaraz, provided we give to our young population the required facilities, opportunities and encouragement to prosper as well as excel in sports.

The government must ensure suitable policies for the development of sports in the country, and the media should play a pivotal role in encouraging the youngsters to actively participate in healthy activities.

Ejaz Ahmad Magoon
London, United Kingdom

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2024