Benazir Bhutto tennis academy inaugurated

ISLAMABAD: Senator Saleem Mandviwalla has called for spreading sports facilities across the country to develop the base and groom the young talent at grassroots level.

Former Deputy Chairman Senate, Senator Mandviwalla who was accompanied by Senator Taj Haider expressed these views while inaugurating the Benazir Bhutto National Tennis Academy here at the Islamabad Tennis Complex.

“It is no less than an honour for me to inaugurate the academy in the name of BB Shaheed. She had a special love for sports and always supported and advocated participation of women folk in sports.”

He announced full backing for the academy, saying that training budding talent at the age of 14 years was a real service.

“It is an age where you start learning. By imparting training to youth at this age, you actually are preparing the future of Pakistan tennis.”

Senator Taj Haider who always supported tennis by helping to organize Benazir Bhutto International Tennis on an annual basis said that the Academy initially would serve children coaching.

“We want to develop this academy with the passage of time. Hopefully in days to come it would also serve other age groups. I know Complex Chief Executive Fazale Subhan has always promoted tennis at the complex. His efforts will bring fruits in time to come.”

Over 15 junior players have initially been made part of the academy. “We will offer free coaching and the use of tennis facilities to all those kids who cannot afford training. This academy will be free of cost meant to promote and popularize the game amongst families having less income. It is here that you usually find talent and our effort would be to look for that talent which goes on to serve the nation in days to come,” Kamran Khalil, the Level III coach (the highest category) told ‘The News’.

He added that he would personally monitor youngsters’ progress at the academy.

Besides the media, a good number of children and parents adopting Covid-19 SOPs participated in the inauguration ceremony.