Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-12 Boys’ tennis team has left for Kazakhstan to participate in the ATF U12 Team Competition Final 2024, scheduled to take place in Shymkent from September 16 to 21, 2024. Three players including Mohammad Shayan Afridi, Rashid Ali, and Mohammad Junaid along with non-playing captain-cum-coach Mohammad Abid will represent Pakistan in an international juniors’ tennis fixture.
According to an official of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), the team will also attend a three-week training camp, one week before the event and two weeks after, as part of a historic in collaboration between the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (KTF).
This is the second time Pakistan has reached the final stage of this prestigious event. In 2021, Pakistan triumphed over India to win the championship. Syria, and Saudi Arabia from West Asia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Central Asia, Pakistan and India from South Asia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam from Southeast Asia and China, Chinese Taipei, and Korea from East Asia will participate in the 6-day competitions.
As a result of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the PTF and KTF, the Pakistani team will benefit from extensive training in Shymkent. This is the first time Pakistani players will attend a training camp abroad, which is expected to significantly enhance their skills.
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the PTF, extended his best wishes to the team, urging them to play with full force and bring home the title. He emphasized the importance of the MOU, stating that such initiatives will give young players opportunities to showcase their talent and improve their skills. He also expressed gratitude to the KTF for hosting the Pakistani team.
