February 1, 2006	Wednesday	Muharram 2, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 31: Country’s top tennis player Aisamul Haq on Tuesday considered Chinese Taipei as favourites against Pakistan in the first round Asia-Oceania Davis Cup group one away tie being played from Feb 10 to 12.

“Their two players are amongst top 150 in the world ranking in addition to the home advantage,” he told Dawn at Karachi Gymkhana where the Taipei-bound team is going through drills in a camp.

Aisam who seldom visits Karachi has come to the city after eight years. The last time he came was when he captured the ITF juniors’ title.

Making comparison between the two teams Aisam, who joined the camp on Monday, said Pakistan had always beaten Chinese Taipei on home ground and “its reverse happens whenever we playe them on their soil”.

He said “In most of the defeats we have gone down after enjoying lead over them” but rated doubles as the strongest point of Pakistan.

He said with minor change, Pakistan team was almost the same since last four years and would be relying on him and Aqeel Khan.

Ranked 380 in ITF singles and 180 in doubles ranking Aisam disclosed that he was nursing shoulder injury which compelled him to pull out of the

second round of the second China Futures tournament recently.

The injury was preceded by semifinal defeat in the first of the two-leg competition.

“I am feeling better after exercise and swimming,” he said.

Aisam who would turn 26 in March vowed to go all out and rewrite history. “It’s team effort and we (Aisam - Aqeel) have to do well,” he added.

About future plans Aisam said on return from Taipei he would travel to France, Germany, Bosnia and Spain for five weeks to compete in three tournaments and prepare for second Davis Cup match.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Davis Cup team would now fly directly to Chinese Taipei on Feb 6, said a PTF official.

Earlier, the team was scheduled to fly to Hong Kong on Feb 3 to acclimatise to climate before proceeding to Taipei.

The change in travel schedule was necessitated as the team could not get visa for Hong Kong following closure of their embassy due to Chinese New Year.