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| November 28, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 25, 1426 |
Federal Cup starts today
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: The Federal Cup tennis tournament is due to start on Monday with all the top players including Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan on show. The elite tournament, organised annually, is again being held at the Islamabad Club although it should have been staged at the nearby Pakistan Tennis Federation Complex.
Players past and present have often complained of strict laws that govern the Islamabad Club which restrict their free movement during the course of the tournament.
But the PTF Complex despite tall claims made by the tennis managers continues to lack basic facilities.
It has been four years now that there has been hardly any activity here, which players say is due to a lack of interest by the PTF officials.
Former Davis Cup player Hameedul Haq told Dawn on Sunday that the PTF had only wasted time and done hardly anything to develop the complex.
“The officials had promised so much but have failed to deliver. This is one venue which should have been the hub of tennis activity in Islamabad yet those running the PTF do not seem bothered.”
Hameed, the current Asian seniors champion pointed out that the PTF despite having enough money raised through government grants specifically for the development of the Complex, has simply no interest.
Previously, the venue has staged Davis Cup ties and ITF tournaments but that was mainly because of the keen interest shown by the former PTF officials.
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