ISLAMABAD: Pakistan No 1 Aqeel Khan almost decided not to play the doubles match against South Korea in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie on Saturday.
Aqeel had pain and discomfort in his right arm and only decided to play after being persuaded by his team-mates.
“When I got up early today, I called Aisamul Haq and expressed my inability to be his partner in the doubles. I felt due to pain in the arm I would not be able to justify my presence,” the right-hander said after Pakistan’s victory.
“Aisam suggested not to make any final decision so early. Later the trainer, coach and doctor worked on my arm for about an hour after which I at least was able to move it freely.”
He said had it not been Aisam as his partner he would never have played. “Even though I was still feeling discomfort, I only played as I knew Aisam was there to cover up for me. My coach and captain Hameedul Haq was also adamant that even if I was not hundred percent I should play. Thanks to Allah we won the doubles and the tie,” he said.
Aqeel praised the hard work put in by the coaches and non-playing captain. “Definitely we worked hard to prepare for the tie,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aisam pleaded to the government and the civil society to work for the uplift of sports in the country as “it is the only way to earn a good name and groom world beaters.”
Talking to the media after Pakistan’s victory, the world No 30 doubles player who recently reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, said along with Aqeel he had been serving Pakistan tennis for the last 20 years.
“I would appeal to the government and civil society to realize the importance of sports.
“While all other countries around us invest heavily in sports, Pakistan has not been able to realize the importance of the modern world.
“To get a good name and to build your nation on strong footing you need to invest heavily in sports. I am sorry to say that we have not realized the importance of sports at any level.
“We two have been serving the country’s tennis for almost two decades now. Nothing so far has been done to prepare our back-up. How long will Aqeel and I represent Pakistan at the highest level?”
Aisam said Pakistan was falling behind as far as sports were concerned. “Better start realizing the importance right now rather than ruing the lost opportunity 10 years later.”
He said talent in Pakistan is in abundance. “What we need is to streamline that talent. Channelise the system, give required exposure and training to that talent in each and every sport to get results internationally,” he said.
from The News International - Sports http://ift.tt/2nH8Y7d
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