KARACHI, Dec 16: After performing poorly in the recently concluded ITF Futures held separately for men and women’s, country’s prominent players assemble in Islamabad this weekend to compete in the sixth National Clay Court Ranking Tennis Championship which will be held at the PTF complex courts from Dec 22 to 27.

Shahida Kausar Farooq, associate member of the PTF and chairperson of an NGO Subh-e-Nau, who revived the event after a lapse of many years has been sponsoring it for the sixth time.

This is the fourth national ranking tournament to be held under the aegis of an NGO this year the other three being a women’s event at Islamabad, National Hard Court and Subh-e-Nau Cup at Karachi.

The event will be contested in men’s singles and doubles, ladies singles, juniors’ U-17 and boys U-13 singles.

To a question, Mrs Farooq said the event will carry prize money of over Rs0.2 million which is a PTF prerequisite for holding national ranking contest.

Ms Mahvish Chishtie, a former national player now settled in Islamabad, has been named tournament director while ITF White badge referee Shahzad Akhtar Alvi will officiate.

The last date for the submission of entries is Dec 21.