September 3, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: Former Davis Cup captain, Hamid-ul-Haq said on Tuesday that his recent victory in the 35 plus category of the ITF Asian Open Veterans Championship could have been achieved a lot earlier if only the previous Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) had cooperated with him.

“If I had been helped by the former PTF secretary Ali Akbar some five years ago I could have been playing against the top 16 veterans of the world like Bjorn Borg, Mansoor Bahrami, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and others.”

Hamid last month successfully defended his 40-plus title in the Asian Veterans Championship in Thailand while also winning the over 35 crown.

The 41-year-old Hamid alleged that Ali Akbar never sent his entry for competing in the veterans championship because of some personal grudge.

“I even complained to the then sports minister about this but sadly no action was taken.”

“If I had the blessing of the PTF then, I would have won the 35 plus crown five years ago,” Hamid pointed out.

“I was in great form in those days and could have made it to the champions group because I had even beaten Mansoor Brahimi in the Davis Cup.”

Hamid lamented that it was now difficult for him to enter the champions group because those crucial years had gone waste, thanks to the then PTF.

But in contrast, Hamid was all praise for the current PTF headed by Syed Dilawar Abbas, who he said had extended him all out support for taking part in this year’s championship.

“I have been well looked after and I am glad that I have not let them down.”

Recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance, Hamid won 148 titles in an illustrious career spanning 24 years.