Sports Bulletin

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s number one wheelchair tennis player, Asif Gull Abbasi missed the practice session, as Thai Airlines left his equipment at Heathrow Airport London due to mismanagement of the airline crew. Asif Abbasi told this reporter from Thailand: “At Heathrow the airport a flight supervisor asked me to wrap it and follow her instructions and did that carefully. Then she assured me that they would take responsibility for any damage, and you have to sign that this is my responsibility if damage occurs to my wheelchair. I had a little argument with her that if you don't take responsibility then who is going to be responsible? She was very rude and said: You will miss your flight and you must write under limited responsibility and I reluctantly signed”. “I have nothing with me. I missed my training today and tomorrow morning I have to play my world team Cup qualifying matches against Australia, and Sri Lanka best teams in the world. I am not sure, I will receive my stuff before my match, and it will be safely returned to me. Still waiting for that, as they said the luggage will arrive in the next flight and they will contact me and deliver to the hotel.

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON: Pakistan No. 1 wheelchair tennis player, Asif Gul Abbasi, caused a major upset at the ITF 3 Tennis Tournament after eliminating second seed Garreth Greene from Ireland in straight sets 2-0 at Bolton, United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday. Abbasi, who is currently ranked 285th in the world, displayed excellent skills of the game throughout the match by hitting number of winners, as he claimed the first set at 6-2 and did a determined comeback from Greene in the second set to win 7-6 (3). Asif Gul Abbasi said: “I'm really happy with how I played today. Greene is a great player and I knew it would be a tough match, but I just focused on playing my best and it worked out. I toiled hard on the court and did not show any complacency during the whole match". Abbasi will now face an Italian opponent in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Sunday at the same venue, and his strong showing in the first round will give him the confidence to move ahead in the international wheelchair tennis fixture. The ITF 3 tournament in Bolton is an important fixture in the wheelchair tennis calendar, and attracts some of the best players from around the world. Abbasi's triumph will no doubt raise worth of his profile in the field of sports, and could be a milestone for the talented Pakistani player.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The main round of the ITF Pakistan Juniors Tennis Championships leg-1 started here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Monday. A  Large number of foreign players (boys/girls) from Turkey, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, UK, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore, China, Poland, South Korea, Canada and Pakistan are participating in the leg-1 event. Results (Boys’ Singles Round-I): Krittamaet Thammakun (THA) beat Mahatir Mohammad Khan (PAK) 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 (2) Yuan Lu (CHN) beat Dogan Can Sipahioglu (TUR) 6-0, 6-2 Hamid Israr (PAK) beat Daniil Chizhuk(RUS) 6-1, 7-5 Asad Zaman (PAK) beat Sevastian Tasenkov (RUS) 6-2, 6-2 Cem Atlamis (TUR) beat Boda Zheng (CHN) 6-4, 7-5 Kamonpanyakorn Thadpong (THA) beat Mohammad Hamza Asim (PAK) 6-4, 6-3 Mikhail Khodorchenko(RUS) beat Teetawat Tavachphongsri (THA) 6-2, 6-3 Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Nadir Mirza (PAK) 6-3, 6-0

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Haniya Minhas has become one of the most skilled players after qualifying for semi-finals at the Orange Bowl Tennis Championship. This comes as a pride and milestone victory for Pakistan and BARD Foundation to witness Haniya at her best in one of the most challenging international tournaments. Prior to securing her spot in the semi-finals at Orange Bowl, over 2000 players participated at Eddie Herr Junior Championship where Haniya Minhas secured a bronze for Pakistan among 90 countries. Haniya joined IMG for training on 22 August 2022 that was followed by a continuous series of remarkable successes at Little Mo International Championship in New York, USA, USTA National under 14 Tennis Championship in Florida, L5 Under 16 National Tennis Championship in the United States, Under 14 National Tennis Championships in Coral Springs, Florida and USTA Under 16 Girls National Championship Final in Florida, USA. Haniya Mushtaq said: “These series of successes have filled me with gratitude and even higher passion to continue playing to the best of my abilities.” Mehreen Dawood said: “It is a great honour for Pakistan and the BARD Foundation that such a breakthrough had been made by a Pakistani girl. Haniya’s triumph will prove to be an inspiration for other players, especially young girls, and serve as a motivating factor for upcoming players.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Rising Pakistan’s 12-year-old tennis girl, Haniya Minhas has won the bronze in the international tennis tournament, held in the United States of America (USA). Haniya progressed through this prestigious tournament, by winning the 1st round. Her outstanding performance in the Quarterfinal match was 6-0, 6-4. Then she put up an impressive competition against her opponent and ended up winning bronze at Eddie Herr International Junior Championship. Over 2000 players participated at the Eddie Herr Junior Championship where Haniya Minhas secured a remarkable place for Pakistan among 90 countries. She started training on 22 August 2022 that was followed by a continuous series of remarkable successes at Little Mo International Championship in New York, USA. Haniya Minhas said: “My current tour of the USA has been an exhilarating experience, as I have been able to train more professionally and out-perform all my worthy competitors, in my first tournament. My special gratitude goes to my country Pakistan that I represent from whole of my heart and the BARD Foundation as they have supported my sporting endeavors for so many years.” Mehreen Dawood said: “Haniya is another international athlete emerging from Pakistan. I congratulate her for making such a great achievement at a very young age. BARD Foundation remains committed to nurture Pakistani talents by enabling the youngsters who demonstrate exceptional passion to excel and create a soft image of Pakistan, globally. We hope that one day, this emerging star will make her way through her passionate goals and dreams. The long-term vision and mission of the BARD Foundation is to support the development of talented, young Pakistanis, in any profession, sport or other field of endeavor. It sponsors the best performing youngsters, to fulfill their dreams and prove their mettle’’.  

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: The Punjab Tennis Academy (PTA) has signed the MoU with Long Beach Tennis Centre (LBTC) New York to work jointly for the promotion of tennis and its players in Pakistan. The MoU was signed between PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz) and Faheem Siddiqui, brother of Long Beach Tennis Centre New York CEO Sid Siddiqui on his behalf during a simple but impressive ceremony held here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore.  Speaking on the occasion, Rashid Malik said: "The Junior Initiative Program was in progress here at the PLTA, which was halted by COVID but now, the PLTA is going to restart the initiative in collaboration with Long Beach Tennis Centre New York and this will help the association restart the junior initiative program once again. This will go a long way and help our kids excel at provincial, national and international level. "This program includes the categories from Under-10 to Under-16 while the players will be selected on the basis of their last five PLTA-organized tennis tournaments. This time, the categories of Under-6 and Under-8 will be given special importance in order to prepare future tennis stars for the country. “The selected players will be provided with free coaching, tennis balls, stringing and other facilities that will help them in domestic tournaments. This is a whole year program which will benefit the local players to a larger extent. Besides this, the top players of the program will also be awarded tennis scholarships and will be sent abroad to get training there and play against the best in the business there,” Malik concluded.  The Junior Initiative Program will commence in the beginning of December this year. PNC Sports New York CEO Saleem Chaudhry and LBTC New York CEO Sid Siddique will grace the grand opening ceremony as chief guests and made some big announcements for Pakistan tennis and its players.

SPORTS BULLETIN Lahore:-Pakistan's senior player and former Davis Cupper Rashid Malik successfully defended his 50 plus Singles and 45 plus Doubles titles in the ITF Seniors World Ranking Tennis Championship in Jalandhar, India. According to information made available here on Thursday, Rashid Malik outpaced India’s Yogesh Kohli by 6-2, 6-2 in the 50plus final. Malik was off to a flying start and conceded just two points to win the first set 6-2. The second set was identical to the first one, where once again, Malik showed his class and didn’t allow his opponent play freely, thus winning the second and decisive set by 6-2 and also succeeded in defending his title.  Rashid Malik, while speaking on the occasion, said: “The defending the title by defeating an Indian player in India is a big victory and I dedicate this victory to the flood victims of Pakistan. My next target is to win the ITF Senior World Title in Portugal”. “I have been serving Pakistan tennis for a long time and will continue this noble cause. I hope that the government will also recognise my services for Pakistan tennis and honor me so that I may do things with a better way and with more zeal and fervor,” he added. Rashid Malik doubled his crowns when he, partnering with Tikam Singh, outsmarted the pair of Faiz Ahmad and Syed Babar 6-2, 6-1 in the 5 plus doubles finals. Both Malik and Tikam were in good form and played tremendous tennis to outshone their opponents and claim the doubles title.  “I resumed playing ITF Seniors after a gap of four years due to Covid and now I will play a couple of more ITF events to get ready for the World Championship next year in Portugal.” After the doubles final, partner Tikam Singh said: “Thanks to Malik for partnering me and finishing as title winners and I thank Malik for being my partner in doubles and because of him, we could win the 45 plus doubles title. During the match, Malik guided me well and boosted me and my morale that helped me give my hundred percent and emerge as title winners. He is a very fine sportsperson and we wish him good health and good luck for the world championship.”

SPORTS BULLETIN Islamabad:-Haniya Minhas, Pakistan’s 12-year-old tennis girl, has emerged victorious in the Girls Under-12 Singles, Doubles and Mixed doubles at the recently concluded Little Mo Internationals in New York. In the Girl’s Singles, Haniya defeated Juliana Castellanos Trujillo in straight sets 6-1 and 6-1. She then teamed up with Juliana for the Girl’s Under-12 Doubles, where they beat Nella Glowacka and Janita Files with a score of 8-3 in the final. Thomas O'Neill and Haniya teamed up for the Mixed Doubles defeating Ishaan Yadlapalli and Elizabeth Sabaev with a score of 8-5 in the final. “These trophies mean a lot and I want to continue playing to the best of my abilities,” said Haniya after receiving the trophy. It is pertinent to mention here that the "Little Mo" Tournaments are important launching tournaments for rising stars. Little Mo is named after Maureen Connolly, the winner of nine major singles titles and the first woman to win a Grand Slam. She is also the only player in history to win a title without losing a set at all four major championships and was a leading player in her time. Haniya has won a total of 8 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in eight months, making her the highest-ranked tennis player from Pakistan in the Asian Tennis Championships, in the 14 years and under-age category, for both boys and girls. In 2021, Haniya also won a bronze at the IMG Future-Stars in Greece.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has announced that Under-14 Mohammad Hussnain Ali Rizwan has been selected for the Grand Slam Player Development Programme -GSPDP /ITF/ATF Under-14 Team to Europe 2022. Mohammad Hussnain Ali proceeded to Paris on 2nd July 2022 to participate in the programme. This is the first time in the history of Pakistan tennis that an Under-14 lad has been selected by the ITF/ATF for a team travelling to Europe. Hussnain is currently ranked No-2 in Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Under-14 category. Salim Saifullah Khan President-PTF said: “Hussnain Ali Rizwan is a huge honour for the country and a matter of great pride for the Pakistan Tennis Federation. The young boy will prove to be a source of great inspiration for the other young promising players. Through hard work, dedication and passion for tennis, such targets can be achieved by them”. : DATE TOURNAMENT 1-3 July Training Camp, Paris, France 4-10 July OPEN STADE FRANCAIS, Coquette, France 11-17 July La Balle Mimosa Loire-Atlantique La Baule- Escoublac, France 18-24 July TOURNOI LOIRE VALLEE, Blois, France 25-30 July Internationale Deutsche Tennismeisterschaften U14 Duren, Germany 1-7 August Young Champions Cup, Hasselt, Belgium  

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan beat Nepal 3-0 in the ITF Asia Under-12 Team-Competition South Asia that started at Kathmandu Nepal. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan are participating in the regional tennis fixture. Mohammad Abid is the captain of the Pakistan team and the team members are Abubakar Talha,  Hamza Ali Rizwan and Omar Jawad. Results (Boys Singles): Hamza Ali Rizwan beat Aadrit Nepal 6-1, 6-0 Abubakar Talha beat Brijesh Aryal 6-1, 6-1 Boys Doubles: Omar Jawad / Abubakar Talha beat Brijesh Aryal /AsavSamrat Hada 6-0, 6-0