ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan Davis Cup head coach Fazle Subhan added another feather to his already decorated cap by adding two singles court at Islamabad Tennis Complex, the first ever of its kind in the country.
One of the founding members of the club, Khadijah Leghari was the chief guest on the inaugural ceremony who is also the undisputed ladies champion for the last five years in running. She shared the lime share of construction cost of the courts.
While sharing her views with this correspondent Khadijah said: “I have been playing at this complex for quite a while. My husband and both kids are also playing here. In fact my kids started to learn tennis at this particular place. My son Ahmed Ibrahim is the boy's U-14 champion and my daughter Aleena Ibrahim is the girl's U-12 champion for the last two-years in running. I felt I owe a lot to this place that's why I decided to help Subhan fulfil his dream of constructing singles court, the very first of its kind, as these courts were never seen or heard before in the history of Pakistan tennis.”
When this correspondent asked Khadijah why she chose this place for financial help, she replied that she owed a lot to the place and her kids were playing there since long and above all Fazle Subhan was doing a wonderful job and that to at a very cheaper and reasonable rates, so it was her moral obligation to help Subahn, who had done so much for the country in giving number of champions.
“I would continue to lend a helping hand, as it is my wildest of dreams to give this country a future tennis champion, who could win laurels for the country at international level. Pakistan's best available coach Kamran Khalil is working on the up and coming talent and I am quite sure he would produce a world class player and that too in a short span of time.”
“Kamran being the former national champion has already produced some quality players who are making waves in tennis circles. Being the highly qualified tennis coach, Kamran is working on my both kids, and he had pinned high hopes on Ahmed, who could become a star player in days to come,” Khadijah concluded.
While sharing his views Fazle Subhan said: “It was my dream to give something to this country, who has given me so much name and fame. Unfortunately my son, Kamran Khalil, who was flying high both at national and international level, was injured badly and couldn't continue playing tennis. But I didn't gave up. I continue to dig out grass roots level players, and with the grace of God, I managed to provide Pakistan some quality players. Nofil Kaleem is a product of my club, who is currently Asian and Pakistan number 1 U-14 playe., Ahmed Chaudhry is one of the most gifted and bright future medal hope. Ahmed has won gold medal for Islamabad in the recently concluded National games and now a days he is in Spain with head coach Kamran Khalil further sharpening his skills.”
Subhan said Zain Nawab was another bright player, who could break his way into Pakistan Davis Cup squad in coming months.
“I am also working on the most important and neglected area and that is of female players. Pakistan is in dire need of quality women players. We have some bright players, but there is an urgent need of finding and grooming ladies players and that too on war footings. I have started a talent hunt program and results are beyond my expectations. I would visit schools, colleges and universities soon and emphasize them about the importance of this sports. I am sure I would find raw talent and with proper coaching and guidance, I would be able to give Pakistan some future quality players sooner rather than later,” Subhan concluded.