17 October 2004	Sunday	02 Ramazan 1425

NEW DELHI, Oct 16: Sporting links between India and Pakistan have hit a new high with achievements that were unthinkable just months ago - winning national titles across each other's borders.

Pakistani tennis player Aqeel Khan clinched India's national championship here at the weekend while Indian woman golfer Shruti Khanna did the same in Lahore on Monday.

The pair achieved the rare successes with all eyes were on an eight-match field hockey series between the arch rival nations.

"It was always a dream to play on the Indian circuit," Aqeel said after beating India's Vinod Sridhar in the final. "It is a special feeling and I thank officials here for inviting me.

"Winning here is as good as winning any international title," said the Pakistani Davis Cup player, who also played in International Tennis Federation tournaments in India earlier this year.

Things were little different for Khanna, who had been looking for opportunities to play abroad.

"Playing at home is a different thing and participating in big international events altogether different," she said recently.

"Since our standard is not anywhere close to professional golf tournaments abroad, opportunities are limited," said Khanna, who won by a huge 20 strokes in Lahore.

Sportling links between the two countries barely existed before Indian cricketers made their first full tour of Pakistan for more than 14 years in March.

India won the Test series as well as a one-day series but has lost more recent events in golf and field hockey.

The Kirlorskar Trophy, a golf tournament between the two neighbours based on the Ryder Cup and revived after being suspended for 13 years, went Pakistan's way, as did the field hockey series played in two legs on either side of the border.

Not only are the two countries hosting each other and inviting players for national championships but a beginning has even been made for competition between states from either side.

A 'Friendship Games' featuring athletes from either side of Punjab state, which was divided during partition in 1947, is also on the cards.

India is expecting a contingent of 280 athletes and officials for the games in Patiala from Dec 5 to 11.

The disciplines will be athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, gymnastics, handball, hockey, tug-of-war, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, shooting, polo and the regional sport of kabaddi, a team game that has been compared to a wrestling and rugby.

The revival of sporting events are part of efforts to improve ties between the nuclear rivals, who have gone to war three times, twice over the disputed state of Kashmir.-AFP