Sports Reporter
LAHORE: Former national tennis champion and Davis Cup player Rashid Ahmad Malik (Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz) will spearhead a four-member Pakistan senior tennis contingent at two prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters tournaments in Pattaya, Thailand, scheduled for November 14 to 26, 2026.
The Pakistani team comprises Waqar Nisar (Men’s 70+), Rashid Malik (Men’s 60+), Khurram Imtiaz (Men’s 55+) and Furqan Uddin Khan (Men’s 55+). All four players will compete in their respective singles and doubles categories, aiming to secure valuable international ranking points and bring further recognition to Pakistan.
The contingent will first participate in the ITF Masters MT700 Tournament at the Royal Cliff Hotel from November 14–20, followed by the MT400 event at Greta Club from November 21–26. The higher-grade MT700 championship is expected to attract players from approximately 25 leading tennis-playing nations, providing Pakistan’s representatives with a strong international challenge.
Waqar Nisar, one of the senior members of the contingent, said participation in these back-to-back tournaments would provide an excellent opportunity for Pakistani players to test their abilities against quality international opposition, improve their ITF rankings and strengthen Pakistan’s presence on the global Masters tennis circuit.
Wajid Aziz Khan, Convenor Tennis at Lahore Gymkhana, highlighted the impressive international credentials of the four players, expressing confidence in their ability to deliver strong performances. He particularly praised Rashid Malik, who has extended his remarkable unbeaten run in Masters singles to 106 matches. Malik has also captured four singles titles in tournaments held in Thailand, Lahore and Oxford, England, besides securing a mixed doubles title in Thailand.
Waqar Nisar finished runner-up in the Men’s 70+ singles category at two MT200 tournaments in Khao Lak, Thailand, in December 2025. Khurram Imtiaz demonstrated his strength by winning both the Men’s 55+ singles and doubles titles in Thailand before adding the 55+ doubles crown in Lahore. Furqan Uddin Khan partnered Khurram to victory in the 55+ doubles category in Thailand and also finished runner-up in the singles consolation event.
Rashid Malik, Khurram Imtiaz and Furqan Uddin Khan expressed their gratitude to The Bank of Punjab, Lahore Gymkhana Club, JDW Group, Revive by Gatorade and Jamal Polymer Pvt Ltd for their generous sponsorship and continued support. They acknowledged that the sponsors' commitment to senior tennis had been instrumental in making their international participation possible and expressed hope for continued encouragement of senior athletes representing Pakistan abroad.
Meanwhile, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman of Lahore Gymkhana has approved Lahore Gymkhana as the host venue for the forthcoming ITF Seniors tournament in Lahore. He appreciated the Gymkhana Tennis Club and its management for their efforts in developing local tennis talent and expressed optimism that emerging players would eventually achieve international success. He also extended his best wishes to the Pakistan contingent for its Thailand campaign, urging the players to give their best and bring further laurels to the country.
