Abdul Jabbar Faisal / Mohammad Rizwan Malik
ISLAMABAD (December 8, 2021):-Over 200 male and female players will participate in the 7th Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championship 2021, which will start from December 13 here at the Islamabad Tennis Complex (ITC) under the banner of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Senator Taj Haider along with Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Palwasha Khan, Syed Sibt Haider Bukhari and Fazal Subhan told journalists of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad in a press briefing at the championship venue.
Senator Taj Haider further said that the top ranking national players would be in action during the 6-day prestigious national tennis showpiece. “The final will be played on December 18 at ITC Clay courts and top leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will grace the occasion as chief guest to distribute the prizes among the players. One million rupees prize money will be disbursed among the national players, “he added.
Responding to a question, he said, “We will try to organize the next edition of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championship at international level and at least South Asian countries will be invited for this annual tennis fixture. The event will have 10 different categories including Men's Singles, Ladies Singles, Boys Under-18, Girls Under-18, Boys Under-14, Boys and Girls Under-12, Boys and Girls Under-12, Under-10 Veterans +45 years and Veterans over + 60, “he further divulged.
“Due to Corona, the participation of foreign players stopped. It is a nice omen for tennis to organize three international events back-to-back in capital city Islamabad. Sindh government is funding for this event and they approved funds of Rs. 4 million for Benazir Bhutto Shaheed National Tennis Championship and it will be staged in benefitted manners. We will also help to train the budding players and a camp will be established very soon, “he said while adding that the tournament would be supervised by International Referee Adil from Iran and Shahzad Akhtar Alvi would assist him.
“Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Tennis Academy was set up four months ago in which 11 ball pickers were training. Tennis competitions would also be organized in remote areas to make poor and middle class children a part of this sport, “he concluded.
