ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday received good news as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has awarded two junior international events to the country subject to foolproof security, thus marking revival of international events in the country.
International teams are showing reluctance to play in Pakistan specifically after the armed attacked on the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore this year.
Arif Qureshi, an official of the Pakistan Tennis Federa-tion (PTF), told Dawn, ‘We have formally requested the ITF to allocate us two international junior events this year and also assured them [ITF] foolproof security.’
Pakistan has already lost a junior international ITF tournament in March this year in the wake of attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and due to prevailing law and order situation.
‘Now the ITF has confirmed to us that the next two international junior tournaments will be played here in the month of August,’ he said.
Regarding the sudden U-turn of the ITF in its earlier stance of not awarding Pakistan any international event, Arif remarked, ‘The PTF president Senator Dilawer Abbas met several ITF officials alongside the Wimbledon tournament and his efforts brought good results.’
Asked whether international players would turn up for the events, he said, ‘We are hopeful of attracting several international junior players because this tournament carried ranking based points.’
‘The PTF is more concerned to give international exposure to its players and also in getting international ranking points,’ he added.
The ITF junior circuit events involve both the categories of boys’ and girls’ –- singles and doubles events.
The first Pakistan ITF International Junior tournament will be held from Aug 3 to 8 and its entry deadline is July 13.
He pointed out, ‘The second Pakistan ITF International Junior Tournament is slated to be held from Aug 10 to 15 and its entry deadline is July 20.’The tournaments will be played at the Garden Avenue — PTF Complex.
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