Pakistan's Indian tennis coach to start stint on May 5

Pakistan's newly-appointed Indian tennis coach Birbal Wadhera will reach here on May 5 to start his stint with the country's players. Pakistan Tennis Federation secretary Mumtaz Yousuf said Wadhera said Birbal would work with players of different age groups.

Pakistan's newly-appointed Indian tennis coach Birbal Wadhera will reach here on May 5 to start his stint with the country's players. Pakistan Tennis Federation secretary Mumtaz Yousuf said Wadhera said Birbal would work with players of different age groups.

HT Image

"We will try to extend his stay by 15 days as a month will not be enough to work with our huge number of players," Yousuf said. Yousuf said the PTF was also planning to invite Indian tennis star Sania Mirza to take part in the exhibition peace match between Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna at the Wagah border later in the year.

The federation has sought permission and security clearance from the government for the exhibition match after Aisam's call to hold the match on the Wagah border to foster reconciliation efforts with India. "We are awaiting the NOC and security clearance for the match," said Yousuf.

"We will invite Mirza and will request Shoaib Malik to convince her to attend the event." The PTF is also planning to hold a national ranking tournament in the conflict-hit tribal area of Waziristan. "We feel it is difficult but not impossible. We will have to bring sports in the region and we have already formulated an initial plan for holding the tournament," he said.

The event will only be possible after July due to the hectic schedule of the federation which will hold a training camp under the newly-appointed India coach besides preparing for the Davis Cup tie that takes place in July.