ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s men and women tennis teams on Monday night left for Baku, Azerbaijan from Islamabad to take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games which are scheduled to staged there from May 12 to 22.

The Pakistan men’s team comprises long-serving national champion Aqeel Khan, Mohammad Abid Mushtaq and promising Muzammil Murtaza while Ushna Suhail, Sara Mansoor, Sarah Mahboob Khan and Meheq Khokhar are part of the women’s team.

Mohammad Khalid Rehmani is the team manager and Mahboob Khan coach-cum-captain.

Both men and women teams underwent rigorous three-week training under the supervision of international coach Mahboob at PSB tennis courts.

Nasrullah Rana, an international conditioning coach, provided physical conditioning to the women’s team.

A 213-strong contingent from Pakistan is going to feature in the Games; teams of boxing, handball and volleyball already left for Baku on Sunday night.

The teams of remaining sports will depart within the next couple of days.

The Baku-bound Pakistan contingent will participate in 15 disciplines: athletics, basketball (3x3), boxing, handball, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling (freestyle & greco Roman), wushu and zurkhaneh.

The government is sponsoring 13 disciplines while basketball and zurkhaneh will be sponsored by the POA and their respective international bodies.

Three PSB officers including deputy director general (tech) Mohammad Shahid, medical officer Dr Abdul Qudus Jamali and physiotherapist Mohammad Manan Haider will accompany the contingent to Baku.

Syed Mohammad Abid Qadri will be the chef de mission for the event.

Published in Dawn, May 09th, 2017