LAHORE – After a break of more than a decade, the Pakistan women’s tennis team has left for Bangkok to feature in the Fed Cup. The Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women’s tennis, and is considered the equivalent of the Davis Cup.
Just before their departure, K-21 Club, which assisted the team in their training, hosted a dinner reception in honour of Nousheen Ehtisham (non playing captain), Rashid Malik (coach), Ushna Sohail, Sara Mehboob, Sara Manzoor and Saba Aziz. Mrs Rao Akbar, Rao Akbar Latif (President K-21 Club/Joint Secretary PTF) and Iftikhar Hussain (Vice President PTF) were also present on the occasion.
The four young ladies will represent Pakistan in the Fed Cup this year. The players have been dominating the national tennis scene for a number of years and each has won national titles. It will be after more than a decade that Pakistan will again participate in the elite competition. The change in heart follows the success of Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in doubles tennis, the recent election of an active PTF president (Syed Kaleem Imam), and the unwavering support for women’s tennis by Executive Committee Member PTF, Shahida Farooq.
The decision to field the national team in the Fed Cup also highlights the generally increased public and government support for women’s sports in the country.
