My target is to become doubles top player: Aisam

KARACHI: Pakistan’s most successful tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who
recently got married, said that his marriage has not deterred him from his aim, which is to become top ranked doubles tennis player.

“My marriage would not affect my aim, which is to become top doubles international player,” said Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who was the chief guest along with his wife Faha in the closing ceremony of International Tennis Championship here at Karachi Gymkhana.

Aisam-ul-Haq, who is currently ranked ninth in doubles international rankings, also played a doubles exhibition match here.

Aisam further said that he would soon team-up with someone else. He has parted ways with his former Indian teammate Rohan Bopanna.

“This was not a big event that we (he and Rohan) separated as a doubles team. That was completely a professional move. I would soon team up with someone else,” he said. Rohan also stayed for few days in Pakistan to attend Aisam’s wedding ceremonies.

Aisam and Rohan, who won many tournaments together and were dubbed as ‘IndoPak Express’, were placed at 5th spot in doubles team rankings.

“I would try my best to play in next year’s Olympics’ tennis doubles event,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also said that he would play for Pakistan Davis Cup tie in Lebanon in February next year.

“I would play for Pakistan in Davis Cup tie. However, it had been better if we had hosted the tie in Pakistan as it was earlier scheduled. It would have given us home-ground advantage.

“The federation (Pakistan Tennis Federation) should have made efforts to retain their rights to host the event. Security conditions in Pakistan are now stable and foreigners are coming here. Chinese hockey team is also playing in Pakistan. In recent past, the security conditions in Lebanon were also not stable, so I think we should have taken a stand,” Aisam stressed.

Aisam further said that tennis could be promoted in Pakistan if corporations come forward to help the game.

“Corporations should come forward and sponsor tennis events. I think in that way we could promote tennis in the country,” he said. (PPI)