ISLAMABAD: Syed Dilawar Abbas, the patron of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), died here on Wednesday at his residence in Sector G-6. He was 74.

An ardent tennis admirer, former Senator Dilawar served twice as PTF president, from 2001 to 2010.

During his tenure, he played an important role in securing huge funding form federal government to expand the PTF Tennis Complex, which was later named after him.

He also served as vice-president of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) and head of ATF’s constitution committee. He was also serving as SNGPL chairman.

According to his staff officer Khalil Chughtai, the former PTF head has been suffering from medical issues of blood pressure and diabetes. On Wednesday morning, he died at his residence.

“When we reached there [residence of former PTF head] in the morning, we found him unconscious. We took him to Kulsum International Hospital where he was pronounced dead [by doctors],” Chughtai said.

According to Chughtai, Dilawar’s funeral prayer was offered in Islamabad on Wednesday evening. “Later, the body was shifted to Lahore where [another] Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Police Lines Imam Bargah Bibi Pak Daman at 1:30pm on Thursday,” Chughtai added.

PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan, PTF council members and the management committee, and the tennis fraternity at large offered their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on the sad demise of Dilawar.

“The death of Dilawar sahib is a big loss for tennis, he was a great friend and lover of tennis, he served as president Islamabad Tennis Association, PTF president and other important positions in ATF and always played his role in promoting Pakistan tennis,” said Davis Cupper Hamid-ul-Haq.

Meanwhile, International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty and the ITF Tennis family extended their condolences to the PTF and the Senator’s family.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019