PESHAWAR: A month long girls and boys tennis training and coaching camp under an international coach from United Arab Emirates (UAE) got under way here at Synthetic Tennis Courts of the Qayyum Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Coach of Pakistani origin Sana Ullah Khan, Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chairman Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tennis Association and known plastic surgeon Dr. Tahir, Director Finance Tariq Khan, Manager Account Amjad Iqbal, AD Account Azaz Khan, District Sports Officer Tehseen Ullah Khan, Secretary KP Tennis Association Umar Ayaz, Administrator Peshawar Sports Complex Syed Jaffar Shah were also present during the opening ceremony.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tennis Association in collaboration with the Directorate General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is holding a month long Tennis Camp wherein international Tennis coach from Dubai, UAE Sana Ullah reached Peshawar this morning from Dubai to coach and train Pakistani players during his two month visit.
It is worth mentioning that Sana Ullah, a former international tennis player and qualified international coach had conducted the similar camp last year and was thoroughly supported by KP Tennis Association and Directorate General Sports KP.
The training and coaching tennis camp will continue till August 25, the camp was officially inaugurated by DG Sports Asfandyar Khan Khattak, who is accompanied by Project Director Prime Minister 1000 Playground facilities Murad Ali Mohmand.
Sana Ullah, who played for Pakistan Air Force, also underwent International Tennis Federation coaching camp in Islamabad in 90s, said that the camps would be organized in two sessions – morning and afternoon.
He said in morning the boys of different age groups and ranking players would be imparting training and coaching and the girls players would go to similar training and coaching sessions in the afternoon.
Secretary General of the KP Tennis Association Umar Ayaz Khalil while talking to the media said that the training camp is being organized in the light of the special instructions of the Chairman of the KP Tennis Association Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir and President DIG Saleem Marwat.
The first session will be held from 7.00 a.m to 11.00 am in the morning and the second session will be held from 4.00 p.m to 7.00 p.m in the evening.
Umar Ayaz said that during the camp the boys and girls of different age groups including U12, U14 and U16 players are participating. International players including Kashan Umar, U14 No. 1 Hamid Israr, Uzair Khan, Kamran, Haseeb Khan, U-10 No. 1 Muhammad Shayan Afridi, U-12 No. 1 Hamza Roman, Shah Sawar, Taimur, Zain, Obaid, Anis and Zohaib are also included in the list.
Talking to media men, DG Sports KP Asfandyar Khattak said that key steps have been taken to bring the talented youngsters in the line for national and international tournaments.
He said, since the start of the U16, U21 and U23 Games, many of KP tennis players are in the national ranking and they also represented Pakistan in different age groups in Davis Cup.
He said giving the monthly scholarship to 1250 girls and boys medallists and position holders’ players of the National Junior and National Senior, Inter-Provincial and National Games, the players are coming up at national and international levels.
He said key steps have been taken and announced sports scholarships by Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan for all medallists and position holders which has solved their problems to some extent and now they could keep more focus on their respective sports. He said that the KP tennis players have won numerous medals in the National Games, Inter-Provincial Games, Quaid-e-Azam Games and U21 Games.
He said KP also won a bronze medal in the doubles category at the National Games. In addition, a total of eleven bronze medals have been won in National Games so far and more achievements will be achieved in future.