‘Participation in SAG only after govt permission’

KARACHI: President Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Salim Saifullah has said that Pakistan’s participation in the South Asian Games in India was linked with permission from the government.
“We have given the names of our players, four boys and four girls, to the organising committee of the SAF Games, but their participation depends on permission from the government,” said Salim while talking to reporters at Karachi Club.
“The strained relations between Pakistan and India have made the government cautious about sending teams to India,” he added.
He said he was going to Sri Lanka to take part in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). “Our agenda is to have the next AGM of ATF in Pakistan and also garner support for the home tie of Davis Cup against China,” the PTF president said.
He added that 44 members of the ATF were expected to pass a resolution in favour of Pakistan to host the Davis Cup tie against China next year. “Pakistan have been denied the right to host Davis Cup ties for a long time now,” he stated.
Salim said that ATF president Anil Khanna in his recent tour to Pakistan promised his full support, both in the development of tennis in the country and in hosting the Davis Cup home ties.
“ATF has allotted us two under-14 international events for next March. This is a very good sign that international tennis is coming back to Pakistan,” he added.
The PTF president said that a policy at ATF level was under consideration for the future events with reduced prize money of $5000.
“It will be a big thing for us and PTF would like to host a few back-to-back events,” added Salim.
He said they would vote for the membership of Dilawar Abbas in the board of ATF and if he was elected, it would be for the first time that any Pakistani would be a member of the board.
“Secretary PTF has recommended my name for the chair of Development Committee ATF,” said Salim. “My name has also been forwarded for the membership of seniors’ committee in ITF,” he added.