Tennis - Int News
Tennis News: Eschelle, Daliah, Mikaeel, and Samer to play 3-nation in Japan
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: A 5-member squad of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Pakistan (ILTCP) on Monday reached the capital city of Japan Tokyo to participate in the three-nation Invitational Tennis fixture IC Rod Laver Junior Tennis League.Pakistan’s squad is consisting of 2 boys, 2 girls, and an official for the international tennis juniors’ fixture. Pakistan, India, and a couple of teams from Japan will take part in the competitions. Eschelle Asif, Daliah Shazim, Mikaeel Ali Baig, Samer Zaman are the part of contingent while Mohammad Khalid Rehmani will accompany the squad as non-playing captain-cum-manager. It is pertinent to mention here that Mekaeel Ali Baig was already in Japan for 15 days with her mother Sysha Ali Baig taking part in Asian Tennis Federation’s Asian Ranking Juniors tournaments. Samer Zaman is Asian and ranked 115 today in the Under-14 age category. Daliah and Eschelle are top two Under-14 tennis girls of province Sindh.The format of the competition is league basis 2 Boys’ Singles, 2 Girls’ Singles, 1 Boys’ Doubles, and 1 Girls’ Doubles will be played. All teams will play each other and winner team will qualify for IC junior leagues final in Santiago later this year.
Tennis News: Leander Paes and Yatin Gupte to acquire franchise in TPL-5
Sports Bulletin ReportKolkata (India):-Tennis star Leander Paes and Chairman Wardwizard Group Yatin Gupte have announced to procure a combined team from the City of Joy, which is set to compete in Season 5 of the Tennis Premier League (TPL). League will be held in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), as they will compete against the likes of the Pune Jaguars, co-owned by Sonali Bendre, Hyderabad Strikers, co-owned by Rakul Preet Singh, Bengaluru Spartans whose ambassador is Sania Mirza and Punjab Tigers, co-owned by Taapsee Pannu.Yatin Gupte said:"In terms of recognition and popularity, TPL is the premier competition of Tennis in India, the level of competition in the league is fantastic. That prompted us to invest in a team that'll take on other competitive teams in the tournament and we are excited to be part of such a wonderful tournament. It also gives us the opportunity to support and invest in Indian tennis, eventually helping elevate the status of tennis in the nation.”He further added on why the Wardwizard group bought a franchise in the innovative league, he said, “I myself am a massive tennis fan, I want to help the sport grow in the country as much as possible and the Tennis Premier League provides a clear pathway for us to do that. The League with its innovative format is well on the way to transforming the tennis landscape in India and it fills me with joy that we can actively contribute to this objective of shining the spotlight on sport in the country.”Leander Paes, said:“I am glad to be the face and co-owner of the team as Kolkata is my hometown, it's where I have some of my fondest memories from. The South Club in Kolkata is the most iconic tennis venue in the country that has hosted the most number of Davis Cup matches in India and has even produced legendary Indian tennis players such as Jaidip Mukerjea and Zeeshan Ali to name a few. I am sure that the presence of a team from Bengal will make season 5 of the Tennis Premier League even bigger than the previous editions.”
ATF U14 Tennis: Mikaeel wins 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze in a row
Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI: Rising tennis lad Mikaeel Ali Baig produced a historical performance in the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Under-14 Tennis Tournaments by winning 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal that were held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
According to an official of Sindh Tennis Association (STA), Mikaeel Ali Baig, Pakistan’s talented young tennis star, had an exponential rise in the ATF ranking as he started 3 weeks ago being unranked and due to his successful performance will be in the top 40s in next week’s ATF tennis rankings.
Mikaeel, who visited Dushanbe three weeks back to play back-to-back three ATF under-14 tournaments was unseeded and unranked. In each tournament, Mikaeel defeated top-seed players on his way to finishing the tournament. His first ATF earned him a second place Silver medal. In the second ATF, he grabbed 2 gold medals winning first place in singles and doubles and in his final ATF tournament, Mikaeel gets a bronze for 3rd place.
Mikaeel Ali Baig said:
“I am of course sad that I lost in the semifinal but it was to the No. 1 seed. We had a great match, there were times when I was in the lead, and then he was. The match lasted 3 hours, and the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for. We learn from our losses, this is what my mother tells me. There was a lot that I did learn about myself from not only this loss but also from these last 3 weeks. I am still on a developmental journey. I have many people in my corner who support me and wish me well, I thank all for believing in me. Know that I am still on a journey, there will be ups and downs and I am still learning. I have yet a lot to achieve and a lot more to do in life. I am constantly working on improving myself and I hope that along this journey I continue to make my family proud and earn more laurels for my country. I have two goals: to help the people of my country as best as I can and to represent my country in the Davis Cup. I hope in years to come I can achieve both.”
Mikaeel Ali Baig claims two crowns in ATF Under-14 Tennis
Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI: Mikaeel earned double crowns in Dushanbe by winning in both singles and doubles gold medals of the Somoni Open Under-14 Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) tennis tournament that concluded in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
According to an official of the Sindh Tennis Association (STA), Pakistan’s upcoming talented player Mikaeel Ali Baig gets two gold medals and becomes the singles and doubles champion.
In the singles match, Mikaeel had to face top South Korean player Siyun Kim, who he had lost just last week in a tight finals match. Once again, the two faced each other in a finals showdown. The thriller match started with Mikaeel very quickly gaining a strong lead and taking the first set at 6-3.
In the second set, however, Kim stepped up, changed his strategy and got the set from Mikaeel at 6-1. It all came down to the third set. Mikaeel was locked in and ready to take on the battle to the finish line. Kim was no match for Mikaeel’s aggressive game. The third set was over very fast as Mikaeel won at 6-0.
The duo partnership of Mikaeel (Pakistan) and Siyun Kim (South Korea), then had to face of opposing doubles team pair from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the final. The doubles match started off with both teams struggling to take the lead. The first set was tied at 6-6, but the opponents managed to grab the set from Mikaeel and Kim.
Meanwhile, in the second set, the dynamic pairing of Mikaeel and Kim fought back and won the set at 6-4, taking the match into a super tie-break. Mikaeel and Kim played the tie-break strong from the start and won at 10-4 to get their championship win.
Asif Abbasi misses the practice session before big games
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s number one wheelchair tennis player, Asif Gull Abbasi missed the practice session, as Thai Airlines left his equipment at Heathrow Airport London due to mismanagement of the airline crew.
Asif Abbasi told this reporter from Thailand:
“At Heathrow the airport a flight supervisor asked me to wrap it and follow her instructions and did that carefully. Then she assured me that they would take responsibility for any damage, and you have to sign that this is my responsibility if damage occurs to my wheelchair. I had a little argument with her that if you don't take responsibility then who is going to be responsible? She was very rude and said: You will miss your flight and you must write under limited responsibility and I reluctantly signed”.
“I have nothing with me. I missed my training today and tomorrow morning I have to play my world team Cup qualifying matches against Australia, and Sri Lanka best teams in the world. I am not sure, I will receive my stuff before my match, and it will be safely returned to me. Still waiting for that, as they said the luggage will arrive in the next flight and they will contact me and deliver to the hotel.
ITF-3: Asif topples second seed Garreth Greene in straight sets 2-0
Sports Bulletin Report
LONDON: Pakistan No. 1 wheelchair tennis player, Asif Gul Abbasi, caused a major upset at the ITF 3 Tennis Tournament after eliminating second seed Garreth Greene from Ireland in straight sets 2-0 at Bolton, United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday.
Abbasi, who is currently ranked 285th in the world, displayed excellent skills of the game throughout the match by hitting number of winners, as he claimed the first set at 6-2 and did a determined comeback from Greene in the second set to win 7-6 (3).
Asif Gul Abbasi said:
“I'm really happy with how I played today. Greene is a great player and I knew it would be a tough match, but I just focused on playing my best and it worked out. I toiled hard on the court and did not show any complacency during the whole match".
Abbasi will now face an Italian opponent in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Sunday at the same venue, and his strong showing in the first round will give him the confidence to move ahead in the international wheelchair tennis fixture.
The ITF 3 tournament in Bolton is an important fixture in the wheelchair tennis calendar, and attracts some of the best players from around the world. Abbasi's triumph will no doubt raise worth of his profile in the field of sports, and could be a milestone for the talented Pakistani player.
ITF Pakistan Juniors Tennis Championships leg-1 start at PTF
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: The main round of the ITF Pakistan Juniors Tennis Championships leg-1 started here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Monday.
A Large number of foreign players (boys/girls) from Turkey, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, UK, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore, China, Poland, South Korea, Canada and Pakistan are participating in the leg-1 event.
Results (Boys’ Singles Round-I):
Krittamaet Thammakun (THA) beat Mahatir Mohammad Khan (PAK) 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 (2)
Yuan Lu (CHN) beat Dogan Can Sipahioglu (TUR) 6-0, 6-2
Hamid Israr (PAK) beat Daniil Chizhuk(RUS) 6-1, 7-5
Asad Zaman (PAK) beat Sevastian Tasenkov (RUS) 6-2, 6-2
Cem Atlamis (TUR) beat Boda Zheng (CHN) 6-4, 7-5
Kamonpanyakorn Thadpong (THA) beat Mohammad Hamza Asim (PAK) 6-4, 6-3
Mikhail Khodorchenko(RUS) beat Teetawat Tavachphongsri (THA) 6-2, 6-3
Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Nadir Mirza (PAK) 6-3, 6-0
Haniya creates history by qualifying for semifinals at Orange Bowl
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Haniya Minhas has become one of the most skilled players after qualifying for semi-finals at the Orange Bowl Tennis Championship. This comes as a pride and milestone victory for Pakistan and BARD Foundation to witness Haniya at her best in one of the most challenging international tournaments.
Prior to securing her spot in the semi-finals at Orange Bowl, over 2000 players participated at Eddie Herr Junior Championship where Haniya Minhas secured a bronze for Pakistan among 90 countries. Haniya joined IMG for training on 22 August 2022 that was followed by a continuous series of remarkable successes at Little Mo International Championship in New York, USA, USTA National under 14 Tennis Championship in Florida, L5 Under 16 National Tennis Championship in the United States, Under 14 National Tennis Championships in Coral Springs, Florida and USTA Under 16 Girls National Championship Final in Florida, USA.
Haniya Mushtaq said:
“These series of successes have filled me with gratitude and even higher passion to continue playing to the best of my abilities.”
Mehreen Dawood said:
“It is a great honour for Pakistan and the BARD Foundation that such a breakthrough had been made by a Pakistani girl. Haniya’s triumph will prove to be an inspiration for other players, especially young girls, and serve as a motivating factor for upcoming players.”
Eddie Herr International Championship: Haniya wins bronze
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: Rising Pakistan’s 12-year-old tennis girl, Haniya Minhas has won the bronze in the international tennis tournament, held in the United States of America (USA).
Haniya progressed through this prestigious tournament, by winning the 1st round. Her outstanding performance in the Quarterfinal match was 6-0, 6-4. Then she put up an impressive competition against her opponent and ended up winning bronze at Eddie Herr International Junior Championship.
Over 2000 players participated at the Eddie Herr Junior Championship where Haniya Minhas secured a remarkable place for Pakistan among 90 countries. She started training on 22 August 2022 that was followed by a continuous series of remarkable successes at Little Mo International Championship in New York, USA.
Haniya Minhas said:
“My current tour of the USA has been an exhilarating experience, as I have been able to train more professionally and out-perform all my worthy competitors, in my first tournament. My special gratitude goes to my country Pakistan that I represent from whole of my heart and the BARD Foundation as they have supported my sporting endeavors for so many years.”
Mehreen Dawood said:
“Haniya is another international athlete emerging from Pakistan. I congratulate her for making such a great achievement at a very young age. BARD Foundation remains committed to nurture Pakistani talents by enabling the youngsters who demonstrate exceptional passion to excel and create a soft image of Pakistan, globally. We hope that one day, this emerging star will make her way through her passionate goals and dreams.
The long-term vision and mission of the BARD Foundation is to support the development of talented, young Pakistanis, in any profession, sport or other field of endeavor. It sponsors the best performing youngsters, to fulfill their dreams and prove their mettle’’.
PTA signs MoU with LBTC New York for the promotion of Tennis
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: The Punjab Tennis Academy (PTA) has signed the MoU with Long Beach Tennis Centre (LBTC) New York to work jointly for the promotion of tennis and its players in Pakistan.
The MoU was signed between PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik (Tamgh-e-Imtiaz) and Faheem Siddiqui, brother of Long Beach Tennis Centre New York CEO Sid Siddiqui on his behalf during a simple but impressive ceremony held here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore.
Speaking on the occasion, Rashid Malik said:
"The Junior Initiative Program was in progress here at the PLTA, which was halted by COVID but now, the PLTA is going to restart the initiative in collaboration with Long Beach Tennis Centre New York and this will help the association restart the junior initiative program once again. This will go a long way and help our kids excel at provincial, national and international level.
"This program includes the categories from Under-10 to Under-16 while the players will be selected on the basis of their last five PLTA-organized tennis tournaments. This time, the categories of Under-6 and Under-8 will be given special importance in order to prepare future tennis stars for the country.
“The selected players will be provided with free coaching, tennis balls, stringing and other facilities that will help them in domestic tournaments. This is a whole year program which will benefit the local players to a larger extent. Besides this, the top players of the program will also be awarded tennis scholarships and will be sent abroad to get training there and play against the best in the business there,” Malik concluded.
The Junior Initiative Program will commence in the beginning of December this year. PNC Sports New York CEO Saleem Chaudhry and LBTC New York CEO Sid Siddique will grace the grand opening ceremony as chief guests and made some big announcements for Pakistan tennis and its players.
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