Level III Qualified tennis coach Asim Shafiq guides well: Says Mohammad Shoaib
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan Number two tennis player, Mohammad Shoaib, 21 years old, said that he was toiling hard on the court to occupy the number one spot in the national tennis ranking, and he would soon be Pakistan’s number one tennis player.
Mohammad Shoaib, during an exclusive interview with www.sports-bulletin.com here added that he defeated Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan thrice in different national fixtures in the recent past. “I have the ability to become Pakistan’s number one. Aqeel Khan is a great player and now 42, he uses his experience to overcome the young tennis lads. I am working hard under the coaching of Asim Shafiq, who is a level-III coach. Kamran Khalil is also a level-III coach in Pakistan. Barkatullah is my partner in doubles and we are at the number one position in the national ranking.”
Pakistan No. 2 tennis lad further said, “Nowadays, I practice in two sessions under the supervision of Asim Shafiq. In the morning I play with my teammate Barakatullah on the court for three hours in the dog days of June, as the temperature goes over 40 centigrade. We start our morning session at 9:30 am and in the morning around 4:00 pm which includes gym practice too for physical fitness. The tennis complex has a small fitness gym but it fulfills our needs, “he maintained.
While responding to a question, a Peshawar-based tennis guy said that he represented Pakistan in Davis Cup competitions including seniors and juniors fixtures. “At the national level, I play with Barkatullah, Adnan Abdullah, and Khalil Yousaf and I enjoy playing with these guys. I am fully concentrating on my game and willing to move ahead at the international level by playing good tennis. Asim Bhai is coaching me very well.”
“Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is supporting me very well and providing all facilities including diet and others. I live in the tennis complex and PTF provides standard food and other gear balls etc. Here the courts hard and clay both are according to the demands of international competitions. When I started to play tennis around 10 years back I was playing in Shilwar and Qameez (local dress) and my uncle (Mamu) asked me to play tennis, “he concluded.
