May 9, 2005	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, May 8: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) plans to set a minimum level of prize money for national tournaments, a top official said on Sunday. Rashid Khan, secretary of the PTF told Dawn that PTF had taken note of the low prize money in the National clay court championship that concluded at the Islamabad Club.

The players who competed in the championship had complained of meagre cash on offer that perhaps prompted the PTF to act.

“In future we will set a level for prize purse in national tournaments because we feel that the players have a right to more money,” Rashid said.

An NGO that organised the championship offered only Rs 150,000 with men’s singles winner Aqeel Khan getting a paltry Rs 24,000 and the runner-up Asim Shafik being awarded Rs 17,000.

Such low prize money does not reflect well either on the organisers or the PTF for this championship was a national event.

It was indeed bad to see the pre-quarterfinalists being awarded only Rs 1000.

“It is an insult to us, I felt embarrassed,” said one of the players who did not want to be named.

He pointed out that from this amount Rs600 was deducted as entry fee and Rs400 handed to him.