June 20, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429

KARACHI, June 19: Subh-e-Nau is set to become the first-ever non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the country’s sports history when it gets affiliation with the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) at its ‘Annual General Council Meeting’ which takes place at Islamabad Club on Saturday at 11.00am after two years.

The grant of affiliation is part of an 11-point agenda circulated to members by the PTF secretary, Major (retd) Rashid Khan.

Presently, the PTF consists of 15 affiliated units – Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP, Army, PAF, Navy, POF Wah, HEC, Islamabad, Wapda, Railways, PIA, Veterans Tennis Association and International Club of Pakistan.

Subh-e-Nau has strong credentials and even surpasses the contribution of the existing PTF units. To date, it has organised four ITF events, 12 national tournaments apart from local competitions, camps and umpiring courses almost in the past two decades. It is headed by Shahida Kausar Farooq who is a PTF Council member.

Another item on the agenda is presentation of audited accounts for 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 which authenticates that it will be the first meeting after Dilawar Abbas’s re-election to the office.

Evaluation of prize money for the national tournaments will also come up for discussion and there are chances that the existing criteria of Rs 175,000 to hold a national ranking tournament may be revised in view of inflation and criticism from top players.

The members will be updated on construction of PTF Complex/ PTF Club, Davis Cup performance, ladies tennis and their future, international events, evaluation of points system, officiating/coaching (system/coaches), approval of minutes of the last General Council meeting and any other item are part of the agenda.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has finally woken up from deep slumber by convening its council meeting after a lapse of two years during which the game has really deteriorated.

Whatever may be the reason for the delay, it is a catch-22 situation for the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to reprimand the PTF hierarchy for violating their own constitution.

The PTF, it is learnt, has also sought explanation from its non-active affiliated units through a circular after a section of press recently pointed out ‘lack of activities’ on their part.