ATF General Council For The First Time In Pakistan In Sept This Year: PTF

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th july,2016) : Senior Parliamentarian and President Pakistan Tennis Federation Salim Saifullah Khan Tuesday said that as announced by President Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) President Anil Khanna, the ATF Annual General Council meeting will be organized in Islamabad in September 11-12 this year. This he said while addressing a press conference with Secretary KP Tennis Association Umar Ayaz, Chairman KP sports Writers Association Ijaz Ahmad, President Jehanzeb Siddique, members and leading players of various age groups were also present. He said Islamabad is a very beautiful place and hopefully the event would be organized in Islamabad Club with all efforts would be taken as for as security to the dignitaries from 44 countries of the world to be coming to Pakistan for attending this historical meeting is concerned. Certainly with people concerning with Tennis are coming to Pakistan from around the world would see by their own the facilities we have for the Tennis besides condusive environment for holding International Tennis event, Salim Saifullah added. He said, it is not only the duty of ITF, ATF and PTF but also the govt to help the federation in best possible manner.

The body alone cannot even think about conducting events, so extending facilities under such financial strains is not an easy task, he remarked. Salim Saifullah disclosed that he would be meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and would apprise about the efforts being taken for the promotion of Tennis in Pakistan.

Hopefully Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif would announce a grant for the PTF so that it could be able to bring the International Tennis back to Pakistan, he informed.

It is almost impossible for players to participate even at Asian level events in such tight financial position, but they have to play in maximum events to earn ranking points.

“I am sure Prime Minister would help us out from the financial crunch,” he said, adding, Pakistan case is very strongly for holding Davis Cup Tie. He said Pakistan is blessed to have international player like Aisam, with Aqeel Khan and currently young players are coming up at national and international levels so giving exposures to these youngsters are the top most priority of the PTF. He also announced two players of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who are in top national ranking for a yearlong training to Turkey where they would learn best Tennis under qualified Tennis coaches. He said: Nobody can deprive Pakistan of their right, as the country is amongst top seven tennis playing nations in Asia.

Salim Saifullah Khan has said that Pakistan would hold three Asian Tennis Federation (ATF)'s Under-14 Super Series Tournaments in Sept and Oct this year. He also asked KP govt to extend support to KP Tennis Association for the construction of game infrastructure and currently there are 10 Tennis courts are under construction. He said PTF is staving hard to promote the game at grassroots level and that is why most to the top ranking juniors' players have been enrolled with different departments like SNGP, PIA, Wapda and Railways etc. He said so far they have generated Rs.

20 million for various national level tournaments wherein the prize money for the players have already been increased in order to facilitate the players.