Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Punjab Open Tennis Championship 2022 got underway at State-of-the-Art five Tennis Courts adjacent to Punjab International Tennis Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex under the aegis of Sports Board Punjab here on Friday evening. Former Davis Cupper and Secretary Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Rashid Malik and other notable sports figures were also present on this occasion. The final of the 5-day Punjab Open Tennis Championship will be played on August 30 at the same venue. Around 150 male and female tennis players from all parts of the province are participating in this high-profile tennis championship. The championship is being contested in various age group categories including men's singles, boys U-18, girls U-18, boys U-16, boys U-14, boys/girls U-12, boys/girls U-10, boys/girls U-8 and boys/girls U-6. Results (Singles Pre-Quarters): Heera Ashiq beat Shahrukh Hussain 8-0 Imran Bhatti beat Hassan Kamran 8-0 Hamza beat Kamran Qureshi 8-2 Bilal Asim beat Abdul Saboor 8-0 Sikandar Hayat beat Aakif Hussain 8-0 Ahmad Waqas Basit beat M Faisal 8-1 Abdullah Adnan beat Saif ul Aziz 8-2 Boys’ Under-18 (Quarterfinals): Hamza Jawad beat Around Raza 6-0 Abu Bakar Khalil beat Zain Saeed 6-1 Men’s Singles (Round-I): Shahrukh Hussain beat Mohammad Akash 8-2 Hassan Riaz beat Farhan Qureshi 8-3 Rana Humayun beat Syed Shams ud Din 8-0 Saif ul Aziz beat Zain Butt 8-3 Amza Jawad beat Waqar Younis 8-1 Bilala Asim beat Ahmad Khan 8-0 Aakif Hussain beat Zaeem Ghafoor 8-2 Sikander Hayyat beat Syed M Mekaeel 8-1 Ahmad Waqas Basit beat Ahmad Adnan 8-5 Boys’ Under-18 (Round-I): Raahim Khan beat Zaeem Ghafoor 6-2 Zain Saeed beat Mohammad Safin Khan 6-4 Abu Bakar Talha beat Mohammad Hammad Shahi

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan’s top tennis star, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi has launched his ACE Tennis Talent Hunt Program at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex Islamabad, as a 2-day trials held under the supervision of Aisam ul Haq Qureshi on Augusr 8 and 9, 2022. A sizeable number of young tennis players of Under-14 and Under-18 age categories from Islamabad and surrounding areas participated in the trials. The talent hunt program was initiated by Aisam-ul-Haq along with Aqeel Khan in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar to identify fresh talent of potential tennis players. Salim Saifullah Khan President, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) visited PTF Tennis Complex and witnessed the trials and exchanged views with Aisam on this initiative. He also appreciated the efforts of Aisam ul Haq in undertaking this project, which will help promote tennis in the country. The President-PTF also extended all possible support to the ACE management from the Pakistan Tennis Federation. The appearance of Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan on the scene is a good omen and he hoped that with the collective efforts, the game of tennis would further achieve the required standard.  

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Taking another historic step Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz inaugurated five international standard tennis courts and Punjab’s first tennis academy adjacent to State of the Art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex by playing a shot against female tennis star Ushna Sohail on Thursday. Director General Sports Punjab Mohammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Director Youth Affairs Syed Omair Hasan, Deputy Directors Rauf Bajwa and Chand Perveen, DSO Tanveer Shah, former Davis Cupper and Secretary PLTA Rasheed Malik, Pakistan’s world class tennis star AisamulHaq, Pakistan men’s number one Aqeel Khan, female tennis star Ushna Sohail and a large number of tennis officials and enthusiasts were also present on this occasion. Talking to media on this occasion, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab AsadullahFaiz said it is a matter of great pleasure that a State of the Art Tennis facility is being launched for the talented tennis players of the province. “These courts are equipped with all international level facilities and now we will be able to organize international level tennis tournaments at our own venues. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that Punjab Sports Department has completed its responsibility and now its obligation of our coaches, trainers and young talented male and female tennis players to avail these facilities to the maximum and polish their skills. “The main objective of these modern tennis courts and academy is to groom young players from the age of 5 to 10 up to U-12, U-13 and U-16. In this way we will be able to produce several tennis stars in future,” he added. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that the tennis academy would be made more effective and operative so that budding players of the province could take maximum benefit out of this outstanding facility. “5 State of the Art tennis courts have been opened for players in Nishtar Park Sports Complex”. Director General Sports Punjab Mohammad Tariq Qureshi said that the talented players will be provided top level sports facilities so that they can win laurels for the country in international sports competitions. “Bringing youngsters towards sports activities is our mission and we will utilise all our resources for this purpose. Now we can say that the future of tennis is bright in our country”. World class tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq on this occasion thanked Sports Board Punjab and Punjab Sports Department for launching international standard tennis facility. “Sports Board Punjab has done its job by building world-class tennis courts, now it is the players' job to work hard”. Aisam-ul-Haq said these days young players are getting top class tennis facilities which were not available to us. “The new players now will have to do something now. “The tennis courts have modern facilities which are very pleasing to see,” he added.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz has announced that Sports Department Punjab will hold the Punjab Open Tennis Tournament 2022 here at the state-of-the-art Tennis Stadium, Nishtar Park Sports Complex in August.  Asadullah Faiz made this announcement on Tuesday during his inspection visit to the Tennis Stadium along with former Davis Cupper and PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Deputy Director Rauf Bajwa and other officials. The Secretary Sports inspected the courts and the stadium and directed the officials concerned to complete the remaining work soon so that the grand tennis event may be conducted at the venue at the end of the next month.  “The purpose of conducting the Punjab Open Tennis Tournament is to provide opportunities to tennis players to exhibit their prowess in the mega event and also earn handsome prize money. Hopefully, top players will compete in the event and display high-quality tennis skills and techniques against each other with the aim of winning prestigious titles after giving their best against the best in the business,” he added.  Asadullah Faiz also expressed the hope to host the ATF and ITF junior tennis tournaments at the state-of-the-art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex. “We are in talks with the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association regarding hosting the first-ever Asian Junior Tennis event at the Tennis Stadium and after this inaugural international event, we will continue to host ATF and ITF events every year. These international events will help our players not only improve their games and skills but also their international rankings.” Speaking on the occasion, PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik thanked Secretary Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz for taking keen interest in the promotion and development of tennis in Punjab especially at junior level. “We are especially focusing on junior tennis development because they are our real asset and future stars, who will represent the country in ATF, ITF and Grand Slam events and try to win international laurels for Pakistan.” Malik said that besides the main five courts at the Tennis Stadium, there are four separate courts for junior players. “I am grateful to Secretary Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz for establishing separate courts for juniors. The PLTA, in collaboration with Punjab Sports Department and Sports Board Punjab, will host ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) Program, where the kids of age U-6 to U-12 will be trained.  “Most of our top ranked junior stars are the product of the JTI Program and we will continue to hold JTI program at these courts, so that we may find more promising and talented tennis players that will be coached and trained under able coaches and trainers and the most talented and shining ones among them will surely win international glories for Pakistan,” the PLTA Secretary added. 

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-The month-long first-ever National High Performance Tennis Training Camp concluded here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah on Wednesday. The camp was sponsored by Ali Embroidery Mills and was conducted by Punjab Lawn Tennis Association in collaboration with Sports Board Punjab. Omer Zaman of Ali Embroider Mills graced the concluding ceremony as chief guest and distributed shields and certificates among the participants of the camp. The notable ones present on the occasion were PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik (the camp commandant), Pakistan No 1 tennis player Aqeel, Davis Cupper Shahzad Khan, former Pakistan No 1 junior Ahmad Babar, Ali Hassan, Mian Asad Shujah Ur Rehman, Nadeem Atta Sheikh, Sohail Malik, Dur-e-Shawar, Asfaq Chohan, Sajid Bukhari, Sami Farooq, Jawad Noor, Haroon Sheikh, tennis players and their families. Speaking on the occasion, Rashid Malik especially thanked Tariq Zaman of Ali Embroidery Mills and hoped that he would continue to support tennis especially for the development of junior tennis. He also thanked the players and their families, who participated in the tennis camp saying, “The camp will play an important role in their tennis careers and when they will represent their country in international events, this training will help them produce better results.” Talking to the journalists, longest serving Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan said that he and all the other coaches, who made this tennis camp a success, are grateful to PLTA and its Secretary General Rashid Malik for taking this historical step, which will benefit the young tennis players in the long run. “This camp will prove very useful for future tennis players and their careers. Whenever they will represent the country at international circuit, they will find themselves better and improved players and hopefully, they will try to give better results for Pakistan. “PLTA Secretary and coach Rashid Malik and his entire team deserves due credit for conducting this first-ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp in a trend-setting manner. The way they provided us all the necessary facilities and superb support, it is really commendable. I hope that the PLTA and the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) will continue this great initiative and conduct such High Performance Tennis Camps at least once or twice a year,” Aqeel concluded.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Ali Embroidery Mills CEO Tariq Zaman on Thursday visited the first-ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp, which is in progress here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah. Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Secretary General Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz) along with Pakistan No 1 Aqeel Khan, former Pakistan No 2 Shahzad Khan, Ahmad Babar, top ranked tennis players, their families and tennis enthusiasts welcomed the honourable guest. He was then introduced to the participants of the camp, who are top 3 ranked players from different age group categories. PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik thanked Tariq Zaman, CEO Ali Embroidery Mills, for taking this initiative of sponsoring the High Performance Tennis Training Camp for the first time ever with the aim of junior tennis promotion in Pakistan. Malik praised the efforts of Tariq Zaman for promoting sports in Pakistan and sponsoring the deserving players, who will learn the finest techniques and points of the game during the High Performance Tennis Training Camp and utilize their skills at higher level and win glories for Pakistan globally. PLTA Secretary also thanked Tariq Zaman for his consecutive support for junior tennis as he keeps on sponsoring the national junior tennis events throughout the year, which keeps talented players active and engage in healthy tennis competitions and also help them earn national points and improve their rankings. "With the support of such generous sponsors like Tariq Zaman of Ali Embroidery Mills, the game of tennis is flourishing fast in Pakistan and young Pakistani tennis players especially from Punjab have started creating waves at international level and they are producing good results at ATF and ITF junior events. I am very hopeful that if the government and corporate sector continue to provide financial boost to our talented and top ranked tennis players, the future of Pakistan tennis seems quite bright," Malik asserted.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) has won the best performance trophy for the year 2021-22, as the special award ceremony held at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Wednesday. President, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Salim Saifullah Khan handed over trophy to Rashid Malik Secretary-General of PLTA. The PLTA has been adjudged as the best performing Province/unit of the Pakistan Tennis Federation for the years 2021-22 and the PLTA had been consecutively awarded this trophy for the last three years. The award was given to the best Province/unit for conduct of National events with a focus on junior players and the development of tennis in the country. The President PTF appreciated the efforts of Rashid Malik Secretary PLTA for single-handedly managing the affairs of PLTA besides his hard work, efforts and his passion for tennis that was the pivotal factor responsible for enhancing the capacity of the Association.

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD:-Husnain Mehmood, Pakistan’s Green Badge Tennis Umpire, Husnain Mehmood has completed the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level-II Officiating School Course that was held Tay Ninh, Vietnam from June 9-13, 2022 and qualified as an ITF White Badge Chair Umpire. According to Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Pakistan’s Green Badge Tennis Umpire Husnain Mehmood successfully completed the course in his 1st attempt, and qualified as an ITF White Badge Chair Umpire. It is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the PTF will now have two qualified White Badge Chair Umpires, after a gap of 23 years since the last White Badge was awarded to a Pakistani Official. Salim Saifullah Khan, President PTF, while congratulating Husnain Mehmood on this achievement, stated that it gives him immense pleasure and satisfaction that PTF has been able to achieve a breakthrough in this segment after a very long time. He also complimented Shahzad Akhtar Alvi, the only other authorized ITF WB Umpire and Head of Officiating at the PTF, for having performed his duties here and overseas single-handedly over the years. Khan also commented that Tennis Officiating was now a very attractive career and further efforts will be made to increase the number of qualified White Badge Chair Umpires, which will greatly facilitate the associations and organizers for the better conduct of the national and international tournaments.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-A High Performance Tennis Training Camp started at Punjab Tennis Academy, as the Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz inaugurated at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Thursday evening. Former Secretary Sports Punjab Rao Iftikhar Ahmed, Chairman Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), Chief Sports Consultant SBP Hafeez Bhatti, PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz), Zahid Zafar Finance Secretary PLTA, Col (R) Asif Dar, Ashfaq Chohan and other officials as well as top tennis coaches, top ranked players and their families were also present on this occasion. As many as top 32 players from across the country are participating in the month-long High Performance Training Camp being sponsored by Ali Embroidery Mills and conducted by Punjab Lawn Tennis Association in cooperation with Sports Board Punjab (SBP). Former Davis Cupper and SBP Head Coach Rashid Malik will be supervising the training sessions at the High Performance Tennis Training Camp. Pakistan's longest-serving national champion Aqeel Khan, Davis Cupper Shahzad Khan, former Pakistan champions Yasir Khan and Ahmed Babar are also imparting training to top 3 players of all categories including men, women and juniors from Under-8 to Under-18. PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik thanked Sports Board Punjab for their support in accommodating the camp coaches and outstation players and also for providing them all facilities and food. "I am also thankful to Secretary Sports Asadullah Faiz and Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan for their cooperation in conducting the first-ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp 2022 that will help the future tennis stars in the long run. "I am also grateful to Tariq Zaman, CEO Ali Embroidery Mills, for taking this initiative for having High performance Tennis Training Camp for the first time ever for the promotion of tennis in Pakistan. Secretary Sports Asadullah Faiz will be chief guest at the opening ceremony and inaugurate the first ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp 2022. Former Davis Cupper and PLTA Secretary General Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz) is leading the first ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp 2022 at Punjab Tennis Academy Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore. Pakistan longest serving national champion Aqeel Khan, Davis Cupper Shahzad Khan, former Pakistan champion Yasir Khan and former national champion Ahmed Babar are also imparting training to top 3 players of all categories including men, women and juniors from Under-18 to Under-10. Rashid Malik thanked the Sports Board Punjab for their support in accommodating the camp commandants and outstation players and also for providing facilities and food. "I am also thankful to Secretary Sports Asadullah Faiz and Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan for their cooperation in conducting the first ever High Performance Tennis Training Camp 2022, which will help the future tennis stars in the long run. I am also grateful to Mr. Tariq Zaman, CEO Ali Embroidery Mills, for sponsoring the camp and also for his all-out support in the promotion and development of junior tennis," Malik added. Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab Asadullah Faiz on this occasion announced that the Sports Board Punjab would provide playing kits, rackets and other equipment to the participants of the camp. “The preparation of practice courts will be completed next month at the State-of-the-Art Tennis Stadium in Nishtar Park Sports Complex. We are planning to hold an international tennis tournament at the SBP's Tennis Stadium after the completion of practice courts.” The Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports Punjab also said that new talent will emerge from High Performance Tennis Training Camp. “Young players should take maximum benefit from the vast experience of top coaches, who are capable of transforming them into true champions. The coaches are keen to prepare these youngsters for international tennis tournaments and hopefully, these talented kids will soon start winning international laurels for the country," he added.  

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan lifted the trophy of the 39th Chief of the Air Staff Khyber Cup Open Tennis Championship-2022 after defeating Mohammad Shoaib by 7-5 and 6-2 in the final played at PAF Officers’ Mess Islamabad. Air Marshal Hamid Rashid Randhawa, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Administration), Pakistan Air Force was the chief guest at the occasion. In the Boys Under-18, qualifier Mahatir Mohammad upset top seed Sami Zeb in a thrilling final by 6-2 and 6-2 and won the championship. In the Under-12, Hamza Ali Rizwan defeated Zohaib Afzal Malik by 4-2 and 4-1 in final match. In the Men’s doubles final, Aqeel Khan and Mohammad Abid defeated Mohammad Shoaib and Barkat Ullah by 6-3 and 7-6. At the end, the chief guest gave away trophies and cash prize to the winners and runners-up. It is important to add here that Ladies event was not the part of top national tennis fixture.