Top seeds set to compete in National Ranking Tennis

ISLAMABAD: Country’s top players barring Huzaifa Abdul Rehman will be seen in action in the fifth edition of the Grade A Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Championships that rolls into action at the SDA-PTF Tennis Complex with the qualifying round from today (Monday).

A record draw of 64 players in the men’s singles qualifying round has been finalised with eight going on to join other 24 ranked players in the main draw.

“It is an annual event that the PTF has been hosting for the last five years. Top ranking event draws leading players from across the country. Huzaifa Abdul Rehman will miss the tournament as he is busy playing ITF Junior event in the UAE,” PTF Senior Executive Vice President Khawar Hayat told ‘The News’.

The event offers a handsome prize money of Rs800,000 to be distributed amongst the players in different categories.

“These top national events are very important for the top players as these aspirants will be seen competing for a place in the national team during trials to be held at the start of February. Pakistan are to play Slovenia in important Davis Cup tie in Islamabad in March so the competition here would help leading players gear up for that important event,” he said.

Events to be contested during the 5th edition of the tournament includes men’s singles, men’s doubles, ladies’ singles, ladies’ doubles, junior 18 and under, boys’ 14 and under singles and doubles, boys/girls’ 12 and under boys/girls’ 10 and under singles. Seniors 45 and over doubles. Entry fee for the tournament has been set at Rs500.

All the outstation players will be entitled to economy class Railways fare.

The event is being organised in the memory of late Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan. Some exciting tennis is on the cards in the competition following Benazir Bhutto Tennis results that saw Muzammil Murtaza prevailing over the uncrowned king of domestic tennis Aqeel Khan.

A week later Muzammil was seen getting beaten by youngster Shoaib Khan in the semi-finals of the Chief of Air Staff Tennis in Peshawar. Huzaifa and Shoaib were seen potential juniors to threat top seniors in all the leading domestic events.

“The strenuous training at the National Tennis Centre has definitely helped in improving these youngsters’ game and slowly but surely they are catching up with the leading seniors,” Khawar Hayat added.

Besides Aqeel and Muzammil, Shahzad Khan, Muddassir Murtaza, Yousaf Khalil, Heera Ashiq, Ahmed Chaudhry and Muhammad Abid will also be seen in action in the men’s singles competition.