LAHORE – Pakistan’s longest serving No 1 tennis participant Aqeel Khan has stated that he’s nonetheless match to serve the nation and impressive to achieve extra glories for it.
In an interview with The Nation on Friday, Aqeel stated: “The Davis Cup tie against European tennis powerhouse, Slovenia, was really tough one for us, but the way Allah Almighty helped us first through rain and then through our outstanding performances and strong comebacks, which provided the country a stunning 3-0 triumph against strong Slovenia, which is our one of the most remarkable feats in Davis Cup history.”
The veteran participant stated that Aisam’s presence and motivation within the workforce is the important thing behind the nation’s successive successes in Davis Cup ties. “Aisam at all times backs me up and boosts our morale and particularly doubles my power to provide higher outcomes for the nation. Towards Slovenia, it was as soon as once more Aisam, who not solely made a exceptional comeback within the first encounter of the tie to offer Pakistan 1-Zero lead, but in addition backed me up effectively, as a result of which I succeeded in doubling the lead 2-Zero in opposition to the European tennis powerhouse.
“Within the doubles rubber, our morale was sky excessive and we had been having fun with our match in opposition to the one of many strongest European groups and by the grace of Almighty, we additionally managed to win the doubles to steer our nation to a shocking 3-Zero victory, which not solely shocked the complete tennis world but in addition helped us keep in Davis Cup World Group I, the place now we’ll tackle robust Japan in September this 12 months,” he added.
Lauding the providers of coach and non-playing captain Mushaf Zia, Aqeel stated: “We had very good camp with former Davis Cupper and captain Mushaf Zia, who trained and guided us well for the very important tie. He is a good captain with wide experience and knowledge while he had also remained one of the successful Davis Cuppers of his era, and had served the country in great style.”
He stated that Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) and particularly its President Salim Saifullah Khan deserve due credit score of the nationwide workforce’s Davis Cup victory. “The PTF, under the dynamic leadership of its president, has been serving the game very professionally as they not only conducted a number of international tennis tournaments but also hosted Davis Cup ties one after another at the international-standard grass courts at Islamabad’s Pakistan Sports Complex, which helped us win the Davis Cup ties successively.”
Pakistan will now play the following Davis Cup tie in opposition to Japan in September this 12 months whereas having alternative of floor. About this, Aqeel stated: “We need to play two to three national tournaments prior to play the next Davis Cup tie against Japan while there should be a camp for the national team soon after Ramazan, so that we may prepare for the tie, where though our chances are quite bleak seeing the old records, yet we will try to give out our best.”
When reminded about his report of enjoying 48th Davis Cup ties for Pakistan, second to the India’s Leander Paes, who represented his nation in report 57 Davis Cup ties, Aqeel stated: “Sure, I’m very glad to symbolize my nation in such a report variety of Davis Cup ties and I’m nonetheless wanting to serve it and earn extra laurels for it.
“Though I had plenty of alternatives from completely different international locations for teaching job however as I’ve already talked about again and again that I wish to serve my nation and wish to pay again, no matter my nation gave me, by producing future tennis stars for it.
“It’s my request to the federal government particularly Prime Minister Imran Khan and IPC Minister Dr Fehmida Mirza, who each are sportspersons themselves, to acknowledge my providers and assist me in establishing a global customary academy in Karachi with four to five courts, the place I could coach the uncooked expertise of the nation and remodel them into the champions,” Aqeel concluded.
