ISLAMABAD - Rida Khalid upset top seed Alina Aftab to clinch the title of the SN Earth Day National Ladies and Junior's Tennis Championship 2014 here at Senator Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Friday.
Rida of Lahore upset top seed Alina in a tense thriller 6-1, 6-4. In the boys' U-18 singles final, top seed Mudassar beat Muzammil in three sets. Mudassar lost the first set but came back by winning next two.
Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada was the chief guest on the occasion while DG Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, PTF president Syed Kaleem Imam, Shahida Kauser Farooq and others were also present there. Speaking at the occasion, the IPC Minister said: “There is always a sense of poignancy when watching a player who loses close fight, but unfortunately there can't be two winners.”
He further stated that two young stars of tennis Mudassar and Muzamil from Jhaniya would be given free boarding and lodging at the PSB, as these young stars were the future of the country. He also announced that two more synthetic tennis courts would be laid down in Pakistan Sports Complex to provide better playing opportunities to the players.
“Due to law and order situation, international teams have been avoiding visiting Pakistan but the government is trying best to bring international sports back to the country,” he added. “The IPC is concentrating more on improving infrastructure of sports in the country. Moreover, funds will be released to genuine clubs and federations,” Pirzada concluded.