Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti inaugurated First Sports Board Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2020 here at the State of the Art Punjab Tennis Stadium Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Wednesday.
PLTA Chairman Rao Iftikhar, President Dr Raheel Siddiqui, PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik, Rai Hasan, Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti, Deputy Director Shahid Nizami and a large number of young male and female tennis players were also present on this occasion.
Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti and other guests also witnessed some exciting exhibition matches played by young boys and girls.
The 4-day championship is being organised by Sports Board Punjab in collaboration with Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) at two different venues. The league round matches and quarterfinals will be played at PLTA Courts while semifinals and final will be competed at State of the Art Tennis Stadium at Nishtar Park Sports Complex.
The main events of the tournament include men's singles, ladies singles, boys U-18, boys U-18 doubles, girls U-18, boys U-16, boys U-14, boys U-12, boys/girls U-10, boys/girls U-8 and boys/girls U-6.
While talking to media, Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said Pakistan is a fertile country in the field of sports. “Pakistan has produced several world class players in various games. As many as 150 young boys and girls from all parts of Punjab are taking part in this championship. We are working to develop a nursery of young talented players in a bid to regain lost glory in sports”.
Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti, on this occasion announced to prepare practice tennis pitches adjacent to State of the Art Punjab Tennis Stadium. “Pakistan’s first ever sports school is also being introduced by our govt. The sports school project will help a lot in honing the talent of players at the young age and it is the suitable way to prepare athletes for major sports events like Olympic Games”.
PLTA Secretary Rashid Malik, who is also Tournament Director, thanked Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti for extending best facilities for the holding of First Sports Board Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2020. “This event will certainly provide opportunities the youngsters to exhibit their prowess. If SBP conducts such tournaments in great numbers throughout the year, it will help in tracing young and promising tennis players from far-flung areas of the province”.