The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association appointed former Pakistan Davis Cup player Tayyab Iftikhar as assistant coach at its coaching centre at Bagh-i-Jinnah to assist national coach Rashid Malik for the development of the sport in the province. He will be working on the game’s development with Malik at the Punjab Coaching Center Complex Bagh-e-Jinnah. Tayyab, who is the uncle of Pakistan’s tennis ace Aisamul Haq, is father of upcoming star and Davis Cupper Samir Iftikhar. A foreign country educated, Tayyab has a vast international experience in the game’s coaching. It was under his guidance that his 19 years old son Samir progress in the World Ranking at ITF Junior Circuit from 1300th to 250th in record eight months. Samir became the second Junior from Pakistan since 1998 after Aisam to win four ITF Junior World Ranking titles in 2010 and on domestic circuit the same year he caused sensation by beating Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan after 10 years.
In 2011, Samir continued his winning spree and powered his way into Pakistan Davis Cup team. Samir is currently in USA on Tennis scholarship.
PLTA secretary Ahmad Baksh said: “It is great to have the services of the Ex Davis Cupper who is well-educated and has strong tennis background with international experience which will help PLTA to find talented youngsters from the ongoing talent hunt competitions and groom them to reach at international levels. Tayyab, however, thanked PLTA President Rao Iftikhar and Ahmad Baksh for giving him the opportunity.
