03 August 2004	Tuesday	16 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) ended its financial year in a happy position with a sum of Rs 5 million coming from the Punjab Chief Minister now in its coffers.

Ch. Pervaiz Elahi had announced donating the sum last year at the Davis Cup tie against Korea in Lahore but bureaucratic hurdles prevented quick release of that money. However president of the PTF, Syed Dilawar Abbas said on Monday the money had now finally been released which was received just two days before the close of the financial year on June 30, 2004.

The PTF wants a substantial amount of money to complete its tennis complex in Islamabad, a major chunk of which may well come from Prime Minister Ch. Shujaat Hussain, who is to perform the stone-laying ceremony of the project on August 10.

"With Rs 5 million in our kitty, we would be needing another Rs 10 million to complete the tennis side of the complex," said Dilawar, a senator who is quite close to the Prime Minister.

"We plan to have seven courts including two centre courts, two lounges, changing rooms and an extension of the players' hostel which can be done with the kind of amount we have in mind."

The sprawling PTF Complex covers an area of 10 acres and once completed would become the hub of all tennis activity in Islamabad. "In the second phase of the project, we will add two squash courts, a gymnasium and possibly a swimming pool."

The federation, Dilawar said incurred a major expense on sending its team for Davis Cup ties abroad. "Ticketing, boarding and lodging of the players is all our responsibility."

The PTF receives a grant of $20,000 from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for every Davis Cup tie in which the national team competes, be it at home or abroad. An additional sum of $3000 is also given out if the side wins a certain tie.

"Out of this sum, an amount of $13500 is deducted by the international body as annual fee." Dilawar pointed out that at times, the PTF was able to earn discounted air tickets for the team's travel for Davis Cup ties which eased the burden on the federation somewhat.

"For the 2003 away tie against Japan we got subsidised tickets and our total expense including boarding and lodging of players came to about Rs 0.6 million, but it wasn't so for the New Zealand tie away for which we had to pay more than double."

The PTF also has to pay referee's fee amounting to $1300 for Davis Cup matches it organises at home plus $1000 each to two brown badge umpires along with their travel and tickets. Another$1000 goes as entry fee for every Cup tie.

Money is also dished out for dispatching two junior teams (under-14 and under-16) for Davis Cup competition each year. The office expenditure of the PTF is approximatelyRs.50,000 including staff salaries and payment of utility bills etc while the federation locally gets an annual grant of 0.25 million from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

"We get this money in quarterly instalments of Rs 60,000 and at times special grants of say Rs 0.2 million are given to us for which we have to make a formal request." A recent example in this regard was the away tie against Thailand earlier this year when PSB released Rs 0.2 million to the PTF.

All in all the PTF has spent its money wisely and it promises to be even wiser once more cash comes in. "Our priority would be to continue looking after the players and to see through the completion of the PTF Complex," Dilawar said.