ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on Friday issued its four-year developmental plan for the promotion of the game, aiming at winning a spot in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dawn has learnt. The senior vice-president of the PTF, Irshad Bhatti said: “The previous PTF management could not cash in on the opportunity of winning a spot at the Olympic Games despite having the talent.
“All the players needed was continued exposure at the international level. However, we have set a policy for winning a spot at 2016 Olympic Games.”
Pakistan could not make a mark in any singles event though Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, the country's top player, continued to shine in the doubles game.
The country is currently ranked 57th in Davis Cup, the premier international team event in men's tennis, while placed at No.78 in Fed Cup, a premier team competition in women's tennis.
The official said that more than half of the country's population comprises of the youth, “and all we need is comprehensive talent hunt schemes to be initiated in remote areas specifically the conflict zones”.
“Junior tennis initiative at club and provincial level, registered players' data, event for players as young six years of age, wheelchair tennis initiative and other programmes will be assessed by our team in next few months,” claimed fBhatti.
Asked about garnering young talent, he asserted: “Our first focus is to bring inactive PTF units back in business and in case few of them fail to fulfil their commitments we will cancel there council membership and open registration for new ones.”
Currently, 14 units, including provinces and departments, are general council members of the PTF.
“Ten new national and multinational institutions are willing to be part of the PTF,” he said.
Regarding funds generation and managing administrative mechanism of the federation in a more professional manner, Bhatti said, “PTF has planned a comprehensive marketing and media strategy for ensuring smooth financial working of the federation besides hiring officials to meet several national commitments.”
