Sports Bulletin

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

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his partner from Kazakistan Alexander Nedovyesov outplayed the pair of Stan Wawrinca of Switzerland (former World No 3) and Pablo Andujar of Spain in the quarterfinal of the Anytech365 Andulacia Open World Challenger Tennis Championship on red clay courts in Marbella Spain. The lasted for one hour and sixteen minutes, Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his partner from Kazakistan Alexander Nedovyesov defeated their challengers 2-0 with the score-line of 6-1 and 7-6.

SB Report (October 25, 2019) ISLAMABAD-The three-day ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference under the banner of BNP Paribas kicked off from Friday (today) Bangkok from 25th to 27th October, 2019. The Pakistani participants Rashid Malik Secretary Punjab Lawn Tennis Association and Hamid Niaz, National Coordinator of the Pakistan Juniors Tennis Initiative program (JTI) met with Haggerty President International Tennis Federation (ITF) at the ITF Coaches Conference.  The Other coaches from Pakistan attending this important annual event are Asim Shafik National Development Director PTF, Head Coach NTC, Sara Mansoor Fed Cup Captain, and Nouman ul Haq ITF Level-1 Certified Coach.