KARACHI, Oct 12: The Sixth UBL Salma Noorani national ranking tennis championship begins next Sunday (Oct 20), on the hard courts of Karachi Club.

This was announced by Altaf Hussain, a seven-time national champion from 1976 to 1982, at a press conference Saturday.

Altaf, the former tennis secretary of the Karachi Club is presently based at Lahore. However, this well known sportsman has found the time to come down to the city and help conduct the tournament like he has been doing for the last five successful years as Tournament Director.

He said the country’s top players, in the men’s and women’s events, will be participating in this prestigious tournament, which will run for eight days. Over 350 players are expected to take part and entries from Kuwait have also come in.

Ali Asghar Valika, President of the Organising Committee and also President of the Karachi Club, said “ although Salma Noorani, who passed away two years ago is no longer in our midst, the great lady is still very much remembered in our hearts”.

Salma Noorani’s son Munawar, thanked the sponsors UBL for their keen sponsorship and hoped they would continue supporting the tournament after the lease expires next year.

Munawar said that the tournament carried a cash prize of Rs 2,05,000, by far more than any tennis tournament played in the country.

He added that the winner of the men’s event would receive a handsome purse of Rs 50,000, and the winner in the ladies event will receive a purse of Rs 25,000. The winner of the juniors boys Under-18, will pocket Rs 20,000.