Parents applaud the performance of players, Pakistani team squad arrive back
Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI: A four-member tennis team accompanied by Captain Mohammad Khalid Rehmani of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Pakistan took part in the Under-16 Invitational International Lawn Tennis (IC) Asia Oceania Developmental League that was held in Tokyo Japan.
According to the official press release, the team consisted of Mikaeel Ali Baig, Samer Zaman, Eschelle Asif, and Daliah Ashraf. Besides Pakistan, India, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia New Zealand, and Hong Kong were participant nations of the elite tennis contest. Also, Pakistan, Japan, and India featured in this biannual event of IC International.
The primary objective of the IC developmental league was to raise friendship and international connections through the medium of tennis. Pakistani, Indian, and Japanese players united for a four-day multicultural experience, engaging in team matches that showcased the values of camaraderie, fair play, and sportsmanship. The event was held at the Olympic Games Tennis venue Areaka Olympic Garden Tennis Complex Tokyo.
The event commenced with an opening ceremony, where the players were introduced, and the flags of their respective countries were proudly raised. A regular Philanthropy clinic followed, where the Pakistani players took the opportunity to interact with and mentor young deaf children who were new to tennis. They provided guidance on serving, forehand shots, and backhand shots. The Pakistani girls, Daliah and Eschelle were seen demonstrating tennis rallying shots to the young children and also showed them how to hold rackets and taught them the basics of tennis.
To conclude the day, Mikaeel and Samer, alongside Japanese partners, played a friendly doubles match, emphasizing the spirit of cross-cultural collaboration. A delightful cross-cultural dinner experience sealed the day's events.
Over the next few days, the teams engaged in numerous friendly matches against each other. India dominated in these Invitational friendly matches beating Japan and Pakistan. Additionally, they had the chance to partake in cultural activities such as learning Japanese calligraphy, visiting the renowned Senso-ji shrine, and enjoying a city bus tour.
On the final day, the teams exchanged tokens of appreciation as gifts. Mikaeel Ali Baig, demonstrating exceptional skill and sportsmanship, was honored with the prestigious IC Rod Laver Sportsmanship award, and he was also recognized as the upcoming player of the league.
Ayesha Alibaig, Mikaeel's mother, expressed her appreciation for the well-organized event, highlighting the team's exposure to a different culture and the opportunity to compete against players from various countries. She emphasized the importance of support from federations and private sponsors in enabling young tennis players to travel and participate in international events. Mikaeel's individual achievements, including winning multiple championships in Japan before the IC event, further underscored the need for continued support and encouragement for emerging talent in the sport.
