ISLAMABAD- Four-member Pakistan tennis team along with manager will depart for Korea today (Wednesday) from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to participate in the Asian Games.
Talking to The Nation, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Dr Syed Kaleem Imam confirmed that Aqeel Khan, M Abid, Ushna Sohail, Sara Mansoor and manager M Khalid would travel to Bangkok through Thai Air at 11:30pm, and then they would proceed to Korea. “Ever since I took charge as Pakistan Tennis Federation president, I emphasised on sending teams and players in every available event, both male and females. I can claim, a feat which was not witnessed in the history of Pakistan tennis before, not a single international team event was missed during my four-year tenure.”
“But despite my sincere efforts for the promotion of tennis across the country, I was not responded well by parents and the affiliated whose responsibility is to arrange maximum number of events and provide maximum activity to the tennis players throughout the year.
“I had granted special permission to Samir to appear in trial matches in Thailand and I could have dropped one of the players between Abid and Yasir, but I provided them equal and fair opportunity to play trial matches and book a place in the Davis Cup squad.”
“Pakistan team doesn't have a good Asian Games record, but this time, we have decided to send female team as well, as it will help them gain much-needed international exposure which will boost their confidence,” he said.
To a query regarding Aqeel’s inclusion in Asian Games squad despite shoulder injury, Kaleem replied: “First of all, we had sent names for Asian Games some four months back and secondly, Aqeel never informed the federation or even me at any stage about his injury and his fitness. Had he told us, we could have helped him by providing best available doctors.”
“We have been sending five-member delegation in the Asian Games, as only Aqeel went to China in 2010 Asian Games. I am grateful to Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), which released annual grant, prior to that we had not received a single penny grant for the last two years or so.
No one understands how much expensive is to send even a single player abroad with such limited financial resources. I have arranged a record number of ranking tournaments, I had substantially raise the prize money, gave annual increments to the Pakistan Tennis Federation staff and send juniors abroad along with restoration of Fed Cup teams. I worked day and night with complete dedication, devotion for the uplift of players and game and I am quite satisfied with what I have done so far,” Kaleem concluded.