UBL support helps STPA fulfil promise

KARACHI - About two months ago Raza Ali Mirza and Imran Ahmed, two former tennis players, joined hands together to launch Sindh Tennis Players Association (STPA) and in their inaugural media briefing had vowed to promote the game at grass root level and bring international and quality tennis to Karachi. The new body with the support of the United Bank Limited (UBL) has fulfilled the promise they made when it was announced holding of the first UBL international tennis championships here from December 14 at the new synthetic courts of Karachi Gymkhana in collaboration with STPA and the PTF. Their claims at the time were taken with a pinch of doubts and it was felt that they were making tall claims and would not be able to deliver. However, the two found strong support of the UBL and its corporate head Hasan Raza, a former Punjab tennis player, was convinced that the new tennis body was dead serious in the promotion of the game which had remained neglected in the city for a long time. He held initial meetings with the office bearers of the STPA and agreed to support the first UBL International Championship which will formally start from December 14. Secretary of the STPA Imran Ahmed when contacted here Friday disclosed that five to six players from Sri Lanka have been invited by the sponsor to play in the championship. If it happens it would be a big breakthrough for Pakistan sports which has been isolated due to boycott of foreign teams giving security as the main reason for not visiting Pakistan. He was hopeful that the championships would be held in most befitting manner reflecting the reputation of the sponsor and commitment of the STPA which had picked up the gauntlet to promote tennis in its true sense in Sindh. He said the UBL venture was the first one and added that his association was confident of taking the game in the interior of the province and give stage to the new players in the cities to hone their skills. Talking about the prize money, he said it would be around Rs.07 million. The mens singles winner will get Rs. 0.1.25 million and the losing finalists will receive Rs. 75,000. The losing semi-finalists will get between Rs. 45/47,000 while the ladies singles winner will get Rs 50,000 and the loser Rs 35,000. The sponsors are providing all the support and facilities to the outstation players who would be given free accommodation and daily allowances for the duration of their stay here, he added. Almost all the top mens and ladies singles players outside Karachi have been contacted and they were eager to come to Karachi to play. He disclosed that Pakistans tennis pride Aisamul Haq has been invited to make an appearance at the championship and expected to attend the finals of the championships on December 24. Senior players like Mushaf Zia and Hameedul Haq and others have also been invited to attend the event, he concluded.