Women in SportsWomen in Sports from Pakistan have excelled in a number of fields such as Hockey, Cricket, Table Tennis, Tennis, Squash and other sports. The growing numbers of gyms and fitness centers help in meeting the training and keeping fit requirements for these dedicated athletes. In schools, as well, there are regular sports events where young girls take part in several athletic feats. The women that are making sports' headlines are: "Dawn News" : Ushna Confident of shinning bright in Nigeria “I am optimistic to put up a good performance in my first-ever grade II ITF tournament after participating in as many as 23 grade four and five tournaments in past two years,” she told a news conference along with her coach former Davis Cupper Rashid Malik. She said the ITF grade II tournament being played at Abuja, Nigeria, from March 28 to April 2, will be challenging as players from twenty countries will be taking part in it. “It is a very important assignment for me because points earned in it will count to determine my ranking,” said Ushna. She said she would be playing back-to-back tournaments and after taking part in Nigerian event, she would be flying to Turkey for ITF grade five event being played from April 5. Ushna said her ultimate dream is to join WTA women circuit next year after producing encouraging results in ITF tournament and to improve her ranking. “I am doing five hours daily training under the guidance of Rashid Malik to keep myself fit because tennis is a very fast game which demands prime fitness which is only possible by engaging in strenuous court and gym training,” Ushna added. She said she could play on any court but she found hard courts easier. The national champion urged the Pakistan Tennis Federation to give exposure and experience to young players by ensuring their participation abroad. “Tennis players have lesser opportunities to sharpen their skills as playing tournaments abroad is always an expensive venture and the PTF should sponsor such trips.” Ushna was of the view that less girls are taking up tennis as a sport because they did not get ample chance to explore their talent. “Individual efforts on part of parents to send their children aborad is the only way to get high-profile experience,” she asserted. “I have set my goals in tennis and I am confident to be in top 100 in near future and then to make my mark in a positive manner in WTA events worldwide,” she said.—APP ISLAMABAD: A female governing body member of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has lambasted the federation officials for their lethargic behavior towards the promotion of female players. “It is unfair on the part of the PTF to not even have announced any dates for starting any training camps for the participation of female tennis players in the Federation Cup,” Shahida Farooq Sattar told Dawn on Thursday. Federation Cup tennis is the women’s equivalent of Davis Cup. The PTF had last submitted entry for the national women’s team in the Federation Cup in 1999 but it stopped sending female players to the international competition until now. “Our girls have the much-needed talent. All they need is financial support from the PTF along with the chance to feature in competitive events. However, the officials seem to be least interested in training the girls for the event,” said Shahida, who also happens to be a former tennis player. However, Senator Dilawar Abbas when approached to comment on this, said: “We have already sent Pakistans entry for participation in the Fed Cup.“But we may not even qualify for the event as the girls here don’t have any talent. They have no spark at all.” Abbas added: “You also need a good sponsor for the players to manage the tour.” Shahida, on the other hand, criticized the PTF officials for their biased approach, and said that it has been more than a decade for female players to have represented Pakistan in an international event. Pakistan competed in its first Fed Cup in 1997 and their best result was finishing third in Group II in 1999. “You only need to provide more exposure to the female players like you do for the men and his [PTF president’s] attitude is uncalled for,” Shahida asserted.
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