With United Nations ambassadors from their countries sitting side-by-side to cheer them on, Aisam and Bopanna beat Argentina's Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zaballos 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
"I always believed we would have to do well in the Grand Slams to get the message across," Aisam said. "Them coming to watch us here, it's a big step. They were very encouraging. They said what we are doing is a great thing.
"It just feels like us doing well on the bigger level is getting the message across throughout the world - if me and Rohan can get along so well there's no reason the Indians and Pakistanis can't get along with each other."
In a breakthrough on the court, they will face US top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in Friday's final. "I'm really looking forward to the finals against the Bryans," Bopanna said. "To be the best you have to beat the best."
The ambassadors will be back to watch and so will India and Pakistan fans, cheering together for once. And Aisam hopes he can change US perceptions regarding Pakistan and the Muslim faith. "Today was a small step toward (peace)," Qureshi said. "We always said sports can reach places where no religion or politics can reach. I think it's above all the religion and politics.
"Pakistan has been going through a lot from all the terrorist attacks and the flooding now for the last few months and the cricket scandal," Qureshi said. "I'm very happy and proud that I can send positive news back home.
"I just hope I keep winning matches for Pakistan and can get either one of these titles or both titles back home. That would be a great thing."
Friday, September 10, 2010
An online video about Sikhs looking after a mosque built by his ancestors inspires
the writer to re-connect with his past across the border
By Syed Saadat Hu
.....more
Adi GodrejI had the opportunity to lead an 80-member high-level business delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to Pakistan in May 2012 f .....more
RIP Asghar Ali Engineer
A legacy of peace, rational thinking,
communal harmony
Asoft spoken, gentle and unassuming person, always clad in a .....more
Time to douse the fire
"Pakistan-India relations have been strained for decades due to a number of well known issues - Kashmir, water, sporadic skirmis .....more
An innovative idea connects Indians and Pakistanis with 'the other side'
"It saddens me that we have neighbours that we can't even go visit." "The .....more
Congratulating Nawaz Sharif on the electoral win of his political party, Aman ki Asha's plea to both governments continues to be: "Stay the course". Let the people re .....more
Page 1 of 175
Special Editions
more editions
The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
Blog
more
For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
Global Media
Comments