KARACHI, Aug 13: Tennis ace Nida Waseem is amongst four sportspersons who have been conferred Pride of Performance award on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The other three include Lt. Cdr Zahid Rauf (sailing), Zubair Ahmed (kabaddi) and Shahid Rehman (jockey). The four players will receive their awards on Pakistan Day, March 23rd, 2008.

Born on Nov 1, 1982, in Karachi Nida is a distinguished women’s tennis player who, in the last decade, has carried the name of Pakistan’s tennis both nationally and internationally. She has remained undefeated in the country since winning her first national title ten years ago.

She started playing tennis at a tender age of seven and became Pakistan No 1 women’s tennis player when 14.

Nida competed extensively in the junior world ranking circuit globally between 1996-2000 winning several international matches and tournaments which elevated her junior world ranking to 108 in singles and 87 in doubles.

In 2000, she competed in prestigious Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon (junior grand slam events), a rare distinction as to date she remains Pakistan’s first woman tennis player to attain such heights.

Her notable performance in tennis awarded her a full four year scholarship (2001-2005) from Boston College, USA.

Sailor Zahid Rauf, 38, did the country proud by winning a number of laurels in international regattas.

Apart from securing a bronze in Super Mod class at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, he won Best Asian Yachtsman trophy in the World Enterprise championship at Ireland in 1998, secured bronze medal in the World Enterprise championship last year, claimed gold medal in Enterprise class in the 1999 Asian regatta at home and bronze in Enterprise class at the 2004 Asian championship.

Besides, he has won numerous other honours globally during his illustrious career.

Meanwhile, squash legend Hashim Khan has been awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz.