Under-18 tennis camp not to be resumed this year

KARACHI: The under-18 camp to prepare future Davis Cup team will not be resumed this year.

According to the updated calendar of PTF, there are only three training camps till December and they are 1st PTF Pre ITF Level-I Yellow Badge from October 17-19; ATF Junior Development Camp U-16 at Bangkok from November 6-19; and ATF Junior Development Camp U-14 at Bangkok from December 11-24.

PTF started this camp in January this year and halted it after around three months. The reason behind this is said to be shortage of funds. Four top under-18 players were trained by Hameed-ul-Haq. The players were Muzammil Ahmed, Abdaal Haider, Barkatullah and Aman Atique. Shahzad Khan was assisting Hameed. This was launched for two years.

PTF announced its resumption many times but it did not happen. PTF termed it ‘High Performance Juniors Coaching Camp’ by making it part of its Junior Development Programme.

PTF informed the media in August that the camp was to be resumed from September 1 and that Shahzad would supervise the coaching assignment. It did not happen.

The federation had asked all provincial associations and Federal Tennis Association to nominate two junior players of 14 to 17 years of age for the camp.

“PTF will provide accommodation at PTF Complex besides coaching, but travelling and meals would be the responsibility of players/respective provincial associations,” stated PTF.

But not a single player reached Islamabad to become part of the camp, said a source, adding that one of the main reasons was non-provision of meals to players by PTF this time.  In the first camp in January, PTF provided breakfast, lunch, dinner, fruit, and refreshments to the players but this time PTF withdrew this facility.

“We had around 10 players registered for the second phase of the camp. But due to different issues this camp could not be resumed,” said PTF secretary Khalid Rehmani when contacted.

He said that for three months junior players were not available since they were playing national and international events. Then there was Ramazan and after that there were consecutive events for a few months, he added.

“These are the reasons why PTF has not been able to continue this project but it will start soon,” said Khalid.