LAHORE, Sept 1: The ongoing tennis camp for the build up of the Pakistan team for the Cup Asia Oceania play off tie against South Korea will be boosted with the inclusion of player, Aisam ul Haq.
Aisam currently in America for US Open will be joining the rest of three team members Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan and Nomi Qamar on Sept 5 to attend the final phase of the training, said Rao Iftikhar Ahmad, camp commandant and chief coordinator of the tie on Monday.
The play-off will begin from Sept 19-21 at the grass courts of the Defence club. As the hosts having the advantage of choice of courts, the touring party will be depending on their key weapon Hyung Taik Lee, ranked 63rd at ATP World ranking and is also the Asian number 2 player.
“ Lee no doubt is the visible difference between the both sides as he is the most experienced and top ranking player and presence of such a player in a side can turn the wheel around”, he said.
When asked would it be a Lee versus Aisam competition, he denied and said thinking so would be a mismatch but at the same time added that Aisam has slight edge of home ground and crowd.
“Lee is an outstanding player but Aisam is also very talented and full of promise and has the weapons to beat South Korean ace” said Rao who was recently elected as senior vice-president of the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA).
He said PLTA in collaboration with Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has made international standard training arrangements for the preparation of the team.
The Pakistani squad, barring, Aisam is undergoing vigorous training and physical conditioning in two daily sessions under former Davis cupper,Rashid Malik.
“Players mainly concentrate on single or double match practice plus increasing physical endurance by attending gym and doing swimming in the morning session. In the afternoon session they do high profile match training in the same manner as they are playing in a match”.
Rao appreciated the facilities available for the training of players at the club and said out of five grass courts, three are under the use of the home side, one will be used by the touring party and the fifth one will hold the championship matches. “It is fast court where ball comes with high speed and pace”, he said.
PLTA official said from now on efforts would be made to change the whole concept of the preparation of the Davis Cup team and training would be started six months ahead of the tie and short cut measures would not be adopted in any circumstances.
He said the South Koreans will reach Lahore on Sept 15 and will have practice session for three successive days from Sept 16-19.—APP