KARACHI, Oct 8: Participation of five Indians in the 13th Pakistan International Seniors Tennis Championship which is set to run at the Karachi Gymkhana synthetic courts from Oct 11 to 17 is in jeopardy due to silence by the ministry of interior on the issuance of NOC.

“We have forwarded the case to Islamabad after completing the formalities about a fortnight ago and are still waiting for a response from their end,” secretary Pakistan Seniors Tennis Association (PSTA), Khalid Rehmani, told Dawn on Friday.

The five Indians who have send their entries through emails are Penumatsa Rama Chandra Raju, Radhakisan Gurnaney, Vyas Rahul Chandreshbhai, Anne Ratnakara Rao and P. Murthati Suresh.

“We were expecting to hear from interior ministry this week but chances of their participation have diminished due to weekend,” he added.

Rehmani, who also happens to be the secretary of Sindh Tennis Association (STA), said the draws of the event will be taken out at the venue on Sunday.

The events to be contested include men's 35 plus singles, 45 plus singles and doubles and 55 plus singles and doubles.

Apart from a local based Georgian Andreo Shalakadze, the organisers have received another entry of a German who is here in connection with employment.

He disclosed that it is the practice that PSTA send entry form to some 40 countries across the world and the veteran players who chose to compete returns the same after completing it.

The official said participation of Indian players used to be a source of inspiration for organisers as it enhances the status of the event.

K. V. Murthy was the last Indian who featured in the Seniors event two years back. This was preceded by participation of five Indians and a Sri Lankan.

This is first time PSTA is organising two back-to-back events in a year, he added.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) suffered a severe blow after the government refused to grant NOC to an Indian coach, Sanjay Sawanth, to train the cueists for Asian Games and World Snooker Championship.