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LAHORE (August 4, 2022): Taking another historic step Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz inaugurated five international standard tennis courts and Punjab’s first tennis academy adjacent to State of the Art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex by playing a shot against female tennis star Ushna Sohail on Thursday.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Director Youth Affairs Syed Omair Hasan, Deputy Directors Rauf Bajwa and Chand Perveen, DSO Tanveer Shah, former Davis Cupper and Secretary PLTA Rasheed Malik, Pakistan’s world class tennis star Aisam ul Haq, Pakistan men’s number one Aqeel Khan, female tennis star Ushna Sohail and a large number of tennis officials and enthusiasts were also present on this occasion.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi also witnessed exhibition matches played by Pakistan’s world class tennis star Aisam ul Haq and Aqeel Khan and female tennis players Ushna Sohail and Noor Malik. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz also inaugurated the tennis academy on this occasion.
Talking to media on this occasion, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said it is a matter of great pleasure that a State of the Art Tennis facility is being launched for the talented tennis players of the province. “These courts are equipped with all international level facilities and now we will be able to organize international level tennis tournaments at our own venues.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that Punjab Sports Department has completed its responsibility and now its obligation of our coaches, trainers and young talented male and female tennis players to avail these facilities to the maximum and polish their skills. “The main objective of these modern tennis courts and academy is to groom young players from the age of 5 to 10 up to U-12, U-13 and U-16. In this way we will be able to produce several tennis stars in future,” he added.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said that the tennis academy will be made more effective and operative so that budding players of the province could take maximum benefit out of this outstanding facility. “5 State of the Art tennis courts have been opened for players in Nishtar Park Sports Complex”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz said this is the first tennis academy in the public sector which has been built according to international standards. “The tennis academy has provided international standard facilities so that our players can prepare for international competitions. International coaches will train our young players at the tennis academy”.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Asadullah Faiz informed that four separate training courts have been built for junior players in the tennis academy. “Punjab Sports Department is organizing three major tennis events – Punjab Open Tennis, National Tennis Tournament and Asian Junior Tennis Championship in near future”.
In his media talk, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that young players from U-10 to U-16 age group will be trained in tennis academy. “Senior players will coach and groom new players at this historic venue. It is hoped that good players will emerge from the first Punjab Tennis Academy,” he added.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that the talented players will be provided top level sports facilities so that they can win laurels for the country in international sports competitions. “Bringing youngsters towards sports activities is our mission and we will utilise all our resources for this purpose. Now we can say that the future of tennis is bright in our country”.
World class tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq on this occasion thanked Sports Board Punjab and Punjab Sports Department for launching international standard tennis facility. “Sports Board Punjab has done its job by building world-class tennis courts, now it is the players’ job to work hard”.
Aisam-ul-Haq said these days young players are getting top class tennis facilities which were not available to us. “The new players now will have to do something now. “The tennis courts have modern facilities which are very pleasing to see,” he added.