During my recent visit to Islamabad, I happened to see a former national tennis player from Sindh — Imran Ahmed Siddique. It was nice to see him after a long as he was quite active regarding tennis activities when he was residing in Karachi.

I asked if he still has passion left in him for tennis or he is just occupied with his business and other engagements.

I was surprised to hear that he was doing something grand for tennis — running an academy for under-privileged kids in the capital city of the country.

He told me in detail how he got support from corporate sector for this initiative. Let me share with our readers how it all happened and what kind of support this academy is providing to less-privileged tennis players.

Imran, who is also a certified ITF tennis professional with repute amongst the Pakistani tennis fraternity, said he launched the Sir Syed Cheezious Tennis Academy with the support of Cheezious Pakistan.

“Faheem Ashraf of the Cheezious and Ahmad Masood, Chairman Sir Syed Memorial Society, recognised the need for a facility with international-standard tennis courts and associated amenities, thus envisioned an academy where talented youth could receive top-tier training.

“Also, with his extensive tennis training in the USA and his leadership in advancing tennis in Karachi, Manzar Riaz, who is spearheading this fitness-oriented CSR programme, has brought on board Imran Siddique with a simple aim of introducing Pakistani tennis talent to the global stage,” said Imran.

He added that the academy aims to provide a platform to young, up-and-coming players, allowing them to be trained by qualified coaches to ensure that Pakistan’s tennis talent reaches its full potential.

The academy is located on a dedicated tennis court in Islamabad. The Sir Syed organisation generously provided the land for the tennis court and Cheezious funded its construction, ensuring a state-of-the-art facility for budding tennis players.

“The Sir Syed Cheezious Tennis Academy exemplifies Cheezious’ commitment to community betterment and inclusivity. This initiative ensures that children with talent but limited financial means have access to high-quality training facilities and coaching, enabling them to shine on national and international stages. The best way to improve kids’ tennis is to let them participate in tennis tournaments,” reasoned Imran.

Imran said that the academy allows organisations to hold events and tournaments at its clay courts as these events not only provide an excellent platform for showcasing talent but also contribute to the academy’s sustainability.

“By utilising the academy’s courts for their events, organizations can actively support the growth of tennis in Pakistan while promoting their brand and engaging with the community,” said Imran.

Currently, the academy caters to 34 young players, with 22 students from Islamabad and 12 from Peshawar. The initiative ensures these children receive comprehensive support, including access to training, coaching, and high-quality tennis equipment.

For the students in Peshawar, who are unable to travel frequently to Islamabad due to school commitments, the academy extends its services by providing training and practice equipment locally.

Looking ahead, the academy has set an ambitious goal to expand its reach. It aims to support 50 students each from Peshawar and Islamabad while also extending its services to the Karachi region. These efforts will further solidify the academy’s mission of nurturing young talent and making tennis accessible to children from all backgrounds.

“Organisations and individuals interested in collaborating with the Sir Syed Cheezious Tennis Academy can contact the management team to organize events or tournaments. By hosting events at the academy’s courts, organisations not only contribute to the facility’s operational sustainability but also actively support the academy’s mission to nurture young talent,” suggested Imran.

This initiative is more than just a tennis academy and it is a movement to inspire hope, foster inclusivity, and create opportunities for Pakistan’s youth. With Cheezious’ unwavering support and the involvement of others, the academy can continue spreading “Cheezy Khushiyan” far beyond the dining table-nurturing dreams and developing champions who will make the nation proud. “Together, we can turn this vision into reality and ensure a brighter future for the talented youth of Pakistan,” said Imran.

It was nice to see Imran doing his part for the game he has spent a big portion of his life in, and I hope this initiative will someday produce a big pool of talent for the country and we might have another Aqeel or Aisam from this small initiative.