LAHORE – The 2nd Honda Atlas National Ranking Tennis Championship rolled into action here at the K-21 Model Town Sports Club courts. All the top ranked players of the country are taking part in the championship, which was inaugurated my Mian Mohammad Aamer, former city nazim.
An exhibition match marked the start of the event. The week-long event is also likely to feature Pakistan’s top tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq as guest. Apart from Honda, Makro and Hanif Rajpoot are the co-sponsors for the event. Also present on the occasion were Rao Akbar Latif, president of the club, patron Mujahid Qureshi, managing director Makro Jamal Mustafa and PTF president Syed Kalim-ur-Rehman.
The regular matches will start from today (Tuesday) and competitions will be held in men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, U18 boys’ singles, U14 boys’ singles, veterans’ doubles (over 45), veterans’ doubles (over 55) and veterans’ doubles (over 60). Aqeel Khan will defend the title this year in Open category, while Samir Iftikhar will defend the junior title. Total prize money of the championship is Rs 4,00000, in addition to a special prize of a Honda CD70 motor bike for the men’s singles winner. Certificates of distinction will be awarded to the position holders.
According to the PTF rules, daily allowance will be given to outstation players. Mian Imtiaz, Chairman Tournament Committee and Club secretary has formed a Committee for the smooth conduct of the event. Shehzad is Tournament Director and Referee whereas Fahim Asif Jaswal and Zulifqar Sherazi are administrator and event manager, respectively. Arshad Mahmood will be the media advisor.
