LAHORE – Samir Iftikhar has won his final trial match to make his way into the national Davis Cup team which faces Hong Kong in the Asia/Oceania Group II tie at Victoria Park, Hong Kong from March 4 to 6. Samir, who has won four ITF Junior World Ranking titles, powered past some of the top national players to book a place in the Davis Cup team, along with first cousin Aisam-ul-Haq, Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan.
In the last trial match, Samir crushed Davis Cupper and Pakistan number 3 Yasir 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3 at the Punjab Tennis Complex at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore. The prodigy yesterday out lasted experienced Davis Cupper Jalil Khan, Pakistan number 2, in a nail-biting four-set match 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. In the earlier matches, he beat Hera Ashiq and Mohammad Abid.
The match was witnessed by a good crowd, including overthrown PTF President Syed Dilwar Abbass, President Punjab Lawn Tennis Association Rao Ifikhar, members of the selection committee and PTF officials. While talking to Pakistan Today, Samir credited PTF President Kalim Ammam for his selection in the team. He praised Kalim for giving him the opportunity and the ticket from UK to join the tennis trails.
He also thanked his coaches Rashid Malik, Zulfiqar Rahim, and Mehboob Khan who helped him achieve this feat.
