December 13, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1427

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KARACHI, Dec 12: Country’s top players are expected to feature in the lucrative Rs0.6 million inaugural Yummy IC Open National Ranking Tennis tournament which gets into action at Bagh-e-Jinnah courts, Lahore, from Dec 19.

The events which takes place are men’s singles and doubles, ladies singles, juniors boys under-17 singles, girls under-17 singles, boys under-15 singles, boys under-13 singles, seniors 40 and 50 plus doubles, secretary IC Pakistan, Saeed Ahmed, told a news conference on Tuesday.

President IC Pakistan and a former Davis Cupper, Saeed Hai and tennis secretary, Karachi Gymkhana, Khwaja Masroor, were also present.

Founded in 1982-83 in England after being proposed by France and seconded by Great Britain, it consists of former players who either have donned country’s colour, won national title or achieved high standard in representative matches approved by global body.

Outlining salient features of the richest ever tournament to be held in Pakistan, he said the men’s singles winner will fetch Rs50,000 while ladies singles winner will receive Rs25,000. Similarly, boys and girls will share Rs150,000 out of the total prize money of Rs450,000.

Saeed who also heads Special Olympics Pakistan said the event will form criteria for selection of two under-16 boys and as many girls for five nation junior Challenge Cup for South Asia region being held under the aegis of IC in India next year.

He assured to make it an annual event for the uplift of game.

Tournament coordinator, Khalid Rehmani, disclosed that age of junior players will be verified by their passports and B forms which has been practiced by the PTF. Wrist tests would be conducted in the doubtful cases, he said.