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Pakistan’s Tennis player Hamid-ul-Haq
Former tennis prodigy Hamid brings more glory to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former tennis star and Davis Cupper Hamid-ul-Haq has brought another glory for his country by winning the two titles of the veteran tennis tournament. Hamid won 35 plus and 40 plus events of the Asian Open Veterans Tennis Championship in Thailand last month. Hamid, winner of Pride of Performance award, was the most sparkling player during his heydays and fetched many laurels for the mother country. There are 150 national and international titles under his belt. He remained Pakistan number one for 12 years. Hamid, who represents WAPDA, is also a successful coach – training foreigners at the Margala Tennis Club (MTC) Islamabad. In an exclusive interview with Daily Times the other day he discussed his career and the state of Pakistan tennis.
Hamid said he lost five golden chances of winning 35 plus title from 1997 to 2002 after retiring from the professional circuit as the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) refused to allow him to participate in any international tournament. “Now I want to compensate that major set back of my career. If the PTF had not been discriminatory I would have won more titles,” he maintained. “I won the Davis Cup for Pakistan in 1997 by defeating Iranian player Mansur Behrami, who was then world number 16 (veterans) and was in a good form. I was never provided the chances by the PTF to play Satellite, ATP and Challenges tournaments,” he lamented.
Hamid was of the view had he given a chance of playing these three tournaments he would have been able to reach the final stages of Wimbledon and US Open. **“The federation bosses wasted my talent just for the sake of politics and their own vested interests.” ** **He said he had a good chance of winning the Wimbledon junior title in 1980 as he had beaten the then Wimbledon junior champion in the ITF junior tournament. **“But I was not sent to England instead Rashid Malik and Wahid Nasir participated in the event. The national federation ignored Pakistan number 1 Hamid-ul-Haq and number 2 Islam-ul-Haq.” Hamid said due to financial constraints he was not able to participate in the USA and Wimbledon Veterans Championships despite having the ability to win those titles.
Hamid was all praise for present chief of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Syed Dilawar Abbas for sponsoring him in the veterans’ tournament abroad.****“He is doing great job for promoting the game in the country,” he said. Replying to a question, Hamid said at the age of 40 he was still super fit like a youngster. “I do tough training which includes running, jogging, tracking, hiking and exercise sessions in the forests and mountains during the hottest months of May, June and July.” Hamid said whenever he got a chance to play, perform and coach he tried to give his best and he would continue to do so in future as well for his country.
If I had not read this news today, I, probably, would have never learned about Hamid-ul-Haq. Just look at this record which speaks for itself. Even though he was a victim of discrimination(like who hasn’t) but still he kept working hard and never let himself down. Glad to learn he coaches new guns of Pakistan’s Tennis generation. Hopefully, the results will be satisfactory!
This ‘discrimination’ act has got to stop! Thanks to PTF chief Abbas, Hamid-ul-Haq will have a chance to get US and Wimbledon Veterans Championship titles under his belt! :k: