LAHORE, Sept 24: Indian Tennis Association (ITA) has awarded a wild card to Pakistan’s top tennis star, Aisam Ul Haq for ATP Challengers international tournament being played from Sept29 at Tunkar, Karnataka.

It is the second occasion that (ITA) has given a wild card to Aisam in recognition of his achievements in tennis specially in India where he won a number of ranking ATP tournaments.

Last time he received direct entry into an ATP Challenger in Kolkata in 1999.

“I feel delighted on the gesture of the (ITA) and I look forward to play there,” said Aisam from Tashkent where he is taking part in the Asian Championship.

It would the fourth wild card Aisam has so far received in his career, nterestingly in one year in 1999, in US Open and ATP Challenger in Vietnam.

Aisam said from Uzbekistan he would fly straight to India to play in three major tournaments there.

“I would be staying there for three weeks and would appear in three ATP Challengers in Karnataka,” he said.

After taking part in the Tunkur tournament, Aisam would be appearing in two-back-to-back ATP challengers at Dharward and Belgaum being played in the first and second week of October.

Aisam would return home on Oct 20 on a two week break before taking up other assignments in Far East and Japan.—APP