Sports Bulletin

In all nine years of the current management of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), it was my observation that PTF officials would squander all the efforts and hard work done by the tennis loving PTF President Salim Saifullah Khan. Being here in Kuwait, it is regretful to bear witness PTF President's efforts go to waste due to the sad state of internal PTF affairs.The current PTF management in their nine years’ tenure not only wasted the existing talent, they also destroyed the future of Pakistan tennis by not producing a single capable tennis player to represent them internationally, thanks to the casual attitude, ego, and incompetent policies of a senior official of PTF.At the onset of Salim Saifullah's tenure, Aqeel Khan and Sarah Mehboob were Pakistan’s number one players, and still both these players hold the number one ranks as no new young talent could rise up.The likes of Davis Cup players Saamir Iftikhar, Abid Ali Akbar, Muzammil Murtaza and Fed cup player Mahin Aftab, each and every one of them had their talents laid to waste due to the policies of the said senior official. Same is happening with the current junior national champion and men’s top 10 ranked youngster Sami Zaib where should have been invited in trials for Davis Cup but some unknown USA based player Mujtaba Ali Khan blue eyed of top officials is invited for the Davis Cup trails purely on reference base.Similarly, an adviser to PTF kept promoting his daughter to attain all the benefits by hook or by crook while the said senior official kept promoting a certain tennis coach because of his lengthy friendship with that coach's father. Similarly the adviser used PTF to recommend her daughter to secure Tamgha-i-Imtiaz completing blowing up all merits while ignoring Islamic Games Gold Medalist, Asian Games Silver Medalist and SAF Games Gold medalist tennis players. This has brought shame not only to the entire tennis fraternity but also to the entire deserving sports & players in Pakistan.Now let us examine the performance of the PTF management. Last year, only six men’s national tournaments were held and this year none has taken place so far. Where will the national players go and how will they prepare professionally in the absence of a competitive platform?This year 2023, Pakistan Davis cup team suffered an ugly defeat from Lithuania in February in Lithuania just after defeating the same Lithuanian team in Pakistan in March 2022.The juniors Davis Cup under-16 team got the last position out of 16 in the Junior Davis Cup Asia-Oceania qualifying event held in Kazakhstan in May 2023. This defeat stands as one of the worst in the history of Pakistan tennis.In the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group 2 event held in July 2023 in Malaysia, the ladies team got 10th position out of 12 teams and just marginally avoided relegation to Asia Oceania Group 3.In the under-14 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals event held in August 2023 in Czech Republic, the juniors team attained the last position out of 16 teams with a record bagel sets (6-0) for the defeating Pakistani players. No Pakistani could secure a single set from any opponent.This year only one positive news came out that the Junior U14 team qualified for the world group but the junior team selected for the ITF Junior Tennis Finals event couldn't even secure the Czech Republic visa as nothing was done from PTF management on time. Alternatively, they selected "B" grade team of dual nationals who got bageled in the worst way possible. The dual national coach sent with the team never even managed a street team as a captain/coach but the PTF selected him for a huge task.These few examples are enough to show the sheer incompetency of the PTF management. The onus is on the authorities who have been allowing extension to the current management without elections since November 2022.It is my final observation and question that under the captaincy of legendary Hamid Ul Haq, the Pakistan Davis Cup team beat Indonesia in Jakarta in 2015 without Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi where Abid Ali Akbar and Samir Iftikhar outshined the Indonesian team and now can Pakistan team beat them in Davis Cup again at our home ground – Islamabad -- next month without Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi? I don’t think so.(The writer is an International Certified PTR Tennis Coach from USA, ITF Certified Level II Tennis Coach, and also an Internationally Qualified high-performance pro tennis coach from Pakistan).Editor Note: If someone wants to respond to this article Sports Bulletin will welcome it (info@sports-bulletin.com) 

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The top officials of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) congratulated top national female tennis player Ushna Suhail, who was conferred with the award of TAMGHA-E-IMTIAZ by the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi on Independence Day 14th August 2023 on her meritorious services in the field of tennis at national and international level.It is pertinent to mention here that Ushna Suhail was honoured by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as she was presented with the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Commitment and awarded there at a special ceremony in Kuala Lumpur during the recently held Billie Jean King Cup Asia Group 2, in July 2023. She is the solitary female Pakistani tennis player to receive a prestigious award.Ushna Suhail has represented Pakistan in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly known as Fed Cup), Islamic Games, Asian Games, Asian Martial Arts and Indoor Games, and South Asian Games and has also been Pakistan's No-1 for several years. She is Pakistan's first and only female player who achieved WTA Ranking.President PTF, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan and other officials congratulated Ushna Suhail and her family on the award of the TAMGHA-E-IMTIAZ which is a great honour for PTF and tennis lovers. The President also stated that Ushna's award should prove to be a catalyst for other female players to achieve such laurels due to hard work and dedication.

Level III Qualified tennis coach Asim Shafiq guides well: Says Mohammad ShoaibAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD:-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. 

Sarah Mahboob receives 3 gold medals Aqeel Khan decorates 2 golds on his chestSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:-Pakistan WAPDA have won the tennis title of the ongoing 34th National Games 2023, as the top national men and women won the 4 gold medals for WAPDA at SDA-PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue Islamabad on Monday.In the Men's Singles final, Aqeel Khan (Wapda) beat Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (ARMY) 7-5, 6-1, and won the gold medal for WAPDA while in the ladies' final Sarah Mahboob (WAPDA) got rid of Ushna Suhail (WAPDA) 6-4, 3-6 (10-8) to win the title.Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari, Federal Minister for Inter Provincials Coordination (IPC) graced the occasion as chief guest at the closing ceremony. He appreciated PTF Management and Balochistan Tennis Association (BTA) for organizing the event professionally and befittingly.The closing ceremony was also attended by Justice Ejaz Yousaf President Baluchistan Tennis Association, Iftikhar Rashid SEVP-PTF, Shoaib Khoso DG-PSB, Col. Gul Rehman[R] Secretary-General-PTF and a large number of tennis lovers.The Minister congratulated all the medal winners and appreciated the efforts of all players and coaches from the participating teams.Women Individual Singles EventSara Mahboob (Wapda) GOLDUshna Sohil (wapda) SILVERAmna Ali Qayyum (Army) BRONZELabika Durab (Punjab) BRONZEWomen Individual Doubles EventSara Mahboob/ Ushna Sohail (Wapda) GOLDMehaq Khokhar / Esha Jawad (Wapda) SILVERShimza Naz Durab/ Rahat ul Ain ( HEC)  BRONZESheeza Sajid / Zainab Ali Naqvi   (PAF) BRONZE

Huzaifa Abdul Rehman, and Abdullah Adnan clinch men’s doubles tennis titleSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:-A pair of top national tennis girls, Sara Mahboob and Ushna Sohail from WAPDA claimed the Women’s Doubles title of the 34th National Games 2023 after posting a single-sided triumph against Mehaq Khokhar and Esha Jawad here at the PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Sunday. The score-lone was just 6-1, and 6-0.Huzaifa Abdul Rehman pairing with Abdullah Adnan from Pakistan Army lifted the men’s doubles title after beating Mohammad Shoaib and Yousaf Khalil from Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with the score-line of 6-4, and 6-0. The Singles finals will be played on Monday at the same venue.On Sunday, in the first Men's Singles semi-finals, Aqeel Khan (Wapda) beat Yousaf Khalil (PAF) 6-2, (Retd) when Yousaf retired after losing the first set, due to pain in his elbow and illness. Later, in the second semi-finals, Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) out-classed Mohammad Shoaib (PAF) with the score-line of 6-2, 6-0.Meanwhile, in the first Women's Singles semi-finals, top-seed Sarah Ibrahim Khan (Wapda) defeated Labika Iqbal (Punjab) without conceding a single game at 6-0 and 6-0, whereas in the second semi-finals Ushna Suhail (Wapda) defeated Amna Ali Qayum (Army) in straight sets at 6-4, and 6-0.Results:Men’s Singles (Semifinals):Aqeel Khan (Wapda) beat Yousaf Khalil 6-2, (Retd)Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) beat Mohammad Shoaib 6-2, 6-0Men’s Doubles (Final):Huzaifa Abdul Rehman & Abdullah Adnan (Army) beat Mohammad Shoaib & Yousaf Khalil (PAF) 6-4, 6-0Women’s Singles (Semifinals):Sara Mahboob (Wapda) beat Labika Durab (Punjab) 6-0, 6-0Ushna Sohail (Wapda) beat Amna Ali Qayyum (Army) 6-4, 6-0Women’s Doubles (Final):Sara Mahboob & Ushna Sohail (Wapda) beat Mehaq Khokhar & Esha Jawad (Wapda) 6-1, 6-0

Sara Mahboob outplays Zainab Ali Naqvi 2-0 in quarterfinal, Ushna overcomes Sheeza 2-0Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:-Aqeel Khan (Wapda), Yousaf Khalil (PAF), Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army), and Mohammad Shoaub (PAF) qualified for the top-four stage on the Men’s Singles on the ongoing 34th National Games 2023 after beating Abdullah Adnan (Army), Mohammad Talha Khan (Islamabad), Barkatullah (KPK), and Ahmed Nael Qureshi respectively in the quarterfinals here at the PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Saturday.Results:Men’s Singles (Quarterfinals):Aqeel Khan (Wapda) beat Abdullah Adnan (Army) 6-2, 6-1Yousaf Khalil (PAF) beat Mohammad Talha Khan (Islamabad) 6-2, 6-0Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) beat Barkatullah (KPK) 6-0, 6-1Mohammad Shoaib (PAF) beat Ahmed Nael Qureshi (IBD) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2Men’s Doubles (Semifinals):Huzaifa Abdul Rehman & Abdullah Adnan (Army) beat Barkatullah & Saqib Umer (KPK) 6-1, 6-2Mohammad Shoaib & Yousaf Khalil (PAF) beat Shahzad Khan & Mudassar Murtaza (Wapda) 6-4, 6-4Women’s Singles (Quarterfinals):Labika Iqbal (Punjab) beat Tehreem Yousaf (Sindh) 6-1, 6-0Sara Mahboob (Wapda) beat Zainab Ali Naqvi (PAF) 6-1, 6-3Ushna Suhail (Wapda) beat Sheeza Sajid (PAF) 6-1, 6-3Amna Ali Qayyum (Army) beat Shimaz Durab Naz (HEC) 6-3, 6-3Women’s Doubles (Semifinals):Mehaq Khokhar & Esha Jawad (Wapda) beat Sheeza Sajid & Zainab Ali Naqvi (PAF) 6-1, 6-3Sara Mahboob & Ushna Sohail (Wapda) beat Shimza Durab / Rahat-ul-Ain (HEC) 6-1, 6-0

Aqeel, Shoaib, Abdullah, Khalil Yousaf, Barkatullah, Huzaifa, Ahmed Nael, Mohammad Talha claim victoriesAbdul Jabbar FaisalPhoto By: Uzair BadarISLAMABAD:-national veteran tennis player, Aqeel Khan (WAPDA), Mohammad Sohaib (PAF), Abdullah Adnan (ARMY), Khalil Yousaf (PAF), Barkatullah (KPK), Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (ARMY), Ahmed Nael Qureshi (IBD), and Mohammad Talha Khan (IBD) moved into the quarterfinals of the men’s singles fixture of the 34th National Games 2023 here at SDA-PTF Tennis Complex on Friday.In the Men’s Singles, unseeded Huzaifa Abdul Rehman from Pakistan Army registered an upset victory against 5th seed Mohammad Abid in straight sets with the score-line of 6-1, and 6-3. Sarah Mahboob won her singles and doubles matches in women's competitions, as Ushna Sohain was her partner in Doubles.Results:Men’s Singles (Pre-Quarterfinals):Aqeel Khan (WAPDA) beat Israr Gul (KPK) 6-0, 6-3Mohammad Sohaib (PAF) beat Zubair Raja 6-0, 6 -0Abdullah Adnan (ARMY) beat Asad Zaman (PUB) 6-3, 6-2Khalil Yousaf (PAF) beat Uzair Khan (HEC) 6-0, 6-2Barkatullah (KPK) got walk over against Faizan Fayyaz (PUB)Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (ARMY) beat Mohammad Abid (PUB) 6-1, 6-3Ahmed Nael Qureshi (IBD) beat Rizwan Shah (BAL) 6-1, 6-1Mohammad Talha Khan (IBD) beat Aqeel Shabbir (NAVY) 6-1, 6-0Men’s Doubles (Quarterfinals):Huzaifa Abdul Rehman & Abdullah Adnan (ARMY) beat Abbas Khan & Ahmed Kamil (PAF) 6-1, 6-1Barkatullah & Saqib Umer (KPK) beat Syed Nofil Kaleem & Mohammad Talha (IBD) 6-1, 7-6 (2)Mohammad Shoaib & Yousaf Khalil (PAF) beat Ahmed Nael Qureshi & Mohammad Huzaifa (IBD) 6-4, 6-2Shahzad Khan & Mudassar Murtaza (PUB) got w/o against Asad Zaman & Faizan Fayyaz (PUB)Abdullah Adnan & Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) beat Aqeel Khan & Mohammad Abid (WAPDA) 6-3, 2-6, 11-9Women’s Singles (Pre-Quarterfinals):Sarah Mahboob (WAPDA) beat Rahat-ul-Ain (HEC) 6-1, 6-0Shimza Naz (HEC) beat Zara Afzal (BAL) 6-1, 6-1Amina Ali Qayyum (ARMY) beat YUMNA MALIK (SINDH) 6-0 6-0Zainab Ali Naqvi (PAF) beat Latifa Yousofi (BAL) 6-2, 6-1Ushna Sohail (WAPDA) beat Zainab Ali Raja (ISB) 6-1, 6-0Labika Iqbal (PUNJAB) beat Kainat Ali (ISB) 7-5, 6-2Tahreem Yousaf (SIND) W/O Mahin Aftab (ARMY)Sheeza Sajid (PAF) W/O Oreen (KPK)Women’s Doubles (Quarterfinals):Mehaq Khokhar & Esha Jawad (WAPAD) beat Zainab Ali Raja & Fatima Ali Raja (ISB) 6-0, 6-0Sarah Mahboob & Ushna Sohail (WAPDA) beat Tahreem Yousaf & Yumna Malik (SINDH) 6-0, 6-0Shimza Durab & Rahat-ul-Ain (HEC) beat Mehvish Chishtie & Kainat Ali (ISB) 6-4, 6-2Sheeza Sajid & Heeza Sahjid (PAF) W/O Oreen & Maryum BibI (KPK).

Baluchistan and Islamabad share bronze medal in National Games’ historySports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:-Pakistan WADPA have won both men’s and women’s team event tennis titles of the National Games 2023 after beating Pakistan Army in the final here at the PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Thursday. Baluchistan and Islamabad earned bronze medals first time in the history of national games.In the men’s final, Aqeel Khan gave Wapda a great start by beating Young Abdullah Adnan. Huzaifa Abdul Rehman then evened the tie by beating Mohammad Abid 6-0, 6-0. In the deciding doubles, seasoned Aqeel Khan pairing with Shahzad Khan defeated Huzaifa Abdul Rehman and Abdullah Adnan to win the gold for Wapda.In the women's team events final, Sarah Mahboob Khan gave Wapda a positive start by beating up-coming Amna Ali Qayum. In the best match of the day, Ushna Suhail overcame Mahin Aftab in 3-tough sets.Results (Women’s Team Event-Final):WAPDA beat ARMY (2-0):1st Singles: Sara Mahboob beat Amna Ali Qayyum 6-2, 6-32nd Singles: Ushna Sohail beat Mahin Aftab 6-2, 4-6, 7-5Men’s Team Event (Final):WAPDA beat ARMY (2-1):1st Singles: Aqeel Khan (WAPDA) beat Abdullah Adnan (ARMY) 6-2, 6-12ns Singles: Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) beat Mohammad Abid (WAPDA) 6-0, 6-0Doubles: Aqeel Khan & Shahzad Khan (WAPDA) beat Abdullah Adnan & Huzaifa Abdul Rehman (Army) 6-2, 6-3 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:-The top national tennis men and women from Pakistan Army and WAPDA were superb in the semifinals of the tennis fixture of the 34th National Games 2023, as all matches were single-sided except Mohammad Abid from WAPDA faced a bit of resistance from Yousaf Khalil in the second single here at the PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Wednesday.In another the best match of the day, Abdullah Adnan of the Army beat Barkatullah of KPK 7-5, 6-2, after fighting back from 0-4 in the first set. In another match, Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan thrashed Mohammad Shoaib 6-1, 6-2, in a one-sided match.Results (Men’s Team Event-Semifinals):WAPDA beat PAF (2-0):First Singles: Aqeel Khan beat Mohammad Shoaib 6-1, 6-2Second Singles: Mohammad Abid beat Yousaf Khalil 6-4, 7-5Army beat KPK (2-0)First Singles: Abdullah Adnan beat Barkatullah 7-5, 6-2Second Singles: Huzaifa Abdul Rehman beat Hamid Israr 6-0, 6-0Women’s Team Event (Semifinals)Army beat Baluchistan (2-0)First Singles: Amna Ali Qayyum beat Latifa Yousofi 6-0, 6-0Second Singles: Mahin Aftab beat Zara Afzal 6-0, 6-0WAPDA beat Islamabad (2-0)First Singles: Sara Mahboob beat Kainat Ali 6-0, 6-0Second Singles: Ushna Sohail beat Zainab Ali Raja 6-0, 6-0.

WAPDA, Islamabad, Army, Baluchistan’s women reach in top-four stageAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD:-Pakistan WAPDA, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Khyber Pakhtunkawa (KPK), and Pakistan Army qualified for the semifinals of Men’s Team Event discipline of the ongoing 34th National Games 2023 after thrashing their challengers in the quarterfinals here at the PTF Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Tuesday.In the women’s quarterfinals, WAPDA, Islamabad, Pakistan Army, and Baluchistan threshed their opponents to secure their berths in the semifinals. In the last contest, Baluchistan toiled hard to overcome Sindh 2-1, as the rest of all matches men’s and women’s ended at 2-0 in the prestigious national games competitions.In the first single, Latifa Bibi overcome Yuman Malik 2-1 with the score-line of 6-3, 3-6, and 6-3, as both players displayed top quality game. Later, in the second single, Tahreem Yousaf from Sindh defeated Zara Bibi 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to square the match 1-1. However, in the Doubles, Latifa Bibi pairing with Zara Bibi got rid of Yamna Malik and Noreen Bibi with the score-line of 6-4, 1-6, and 10-4.Results (Men’s Team Event-Quarterfinals):WAPDA beat Islamabad (2-0):1st Singles: Aqeel Khan beat Ahmed Nael Qureshi 6-1, 6-12nd Singles: Mohammad Abid beat Syed Nofil Kaleem 6-1, 6-2PAF beat Pakistan Navy (2-0):1st Singles: Mohammad Shoaib beat Taimur Malik 6-0, 6-0 2nd Singles: Abbas Khan beat Noufl Malik 6-1, 6-1KPK beat Punjab (2-0):1st Singles: Barkatullah Khan beat Faizan Fayyaz 6-1, 6-0 2nd Singles: Hamid Israr beat Asad Zaman 6-2, 6-3Army beat HEC (2-0):1st Singles: Abdullah Adnan beat Uzair Khan 6-1, 6-2 2nd Singles: Mohammad Huzaifa beat Aqib Hayat 6-2, 6-1Women’s Team Event (Quarterfinals):WAPDA beat PAF (2-0):1st Singles: Sara Mahboob beat Shiza Sajid 6-0, 6-1 2nd Singles: Ushna Sohail beat Zainab Ali Naqvi 6-0, 6-0Islamabad beat KPK (2-0):1st Singles: Kaynat Ali beat Oreen Bibi 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-0 2nd Singles: Mehvish Chishtie beat Maryam Bibi 6-0, 6-0Army beat HEC (2-0):1st Singles: Amna Ali Qayyum beat Shimza Naz 6-3, 6-4 2nd Singles: Mahin Aftab beat Rahat-ul-Amin 6-0, 6-0Baluchistan beat Sindh (2-1):1st Singles: Latifa Bibi beat Yuman Malik 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 2nd Singles: Tahreem Yousaf beat Zara Bibi 6-4, 4-6, 7-5Doubles: Latifa Bibi & Zara Bibi beat Yamna Malik & Noreen Bibi 6-4, 1-6, 10-4