STPA’s tennis development programme continues

KARACHI: As many as 14 underprivileged boys and girls are getting tennis coaching from Reza Ali Mirza, USPTR-Professional Certified Coach, and Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Level-1 ITF Certified Coach.

The professionals are coaching these 14 children between the age of 10 and 15 years at the DHA Creek Club and the Karachi Gymkhana Club as part of their tennis development programme.

Reza, CEO-SuperKids and President Sindh Tennis Players Association (STPA), told ‘The News’ that on April 1, 2013, STPA started coaching under-privileged children. “We started with 12 children. We follow a very structured model where children are to follow rules and discipline and are included purely based on their natural ability and desire to become future champions and/or tennis coaches,” said Reza.

“Today, we teach 14 boys and girls. Two of these children are nationally ranked in their age group and the others, who are from Nasra School and Habib Public School, are part of our long term development programme,” said Reza.

Former Pakistan junior champion and member of Pakistan Davis Cup team further said that their current sponsors included HBL, Engro, Khatija Adamjee Foundation and members of the Tapal Group. “Our coaching team consists of three internationally certified coaches and three assistant coaches,” said Reza.

Imran, who is secretary general of STPA and a former nationally ranked tennis player, told this scribe that they had successfully run numerous coaching clinics for children in Pakistan, the US, and Canada.

“STPA was established to promote tennis in Karachi by offering classes and training to children of all ages, regardless of their socio-economic background. Our proud product is the son of Israr Gul, a senior tennis player from Peshawar, who is making his presence felt at national junior circuit now,” said Imran.

He added that under the banner of STPA they had also organised seven high-quality, national-ranking tournaments. “For January to December 2017, our sponsor is Mcdonalds Pakistan,” said Imran.

He added that they organided one national ranking junior tournament in March this year at the Karachi Gymkhana Club. “We plan to organise two more national ranking junior tournaments, in Islamabad and Karachi, before the end of this calendar year,” said Imran.