A salute to Aisam and Rohan
It's an unprecedented partnership, one that has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of Indians and Pakistanis. The 'Indo-Pak Express', as the tennis doubles team of Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna has come to be known, is on a winning trajectory.
First they earned a spot at their maiden grand slam final in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. They then cruised on to the U.S. Open, defeating top seed players to reach the finals. This is truly historic, and not just because it is the first time that a Pakistani has reached the finals in a grand slam tournament. It is historic also because this is the first time that a Pakistani and an Indian have done this together.
This is why Qureshi and Boppanna are winners for millions of Indians and Pakistanis, despite losing - narrowly -- to the top seeded Bryan brothers at the US finals. They proved to the sporting community and to the world at large that Pakistan and India can work as a team.
Qureshi is Pakistan's most successful tennis player. He has earned Pakistan 46 Davis Cup ties in singles and in doubles events. He has received the Pride of Performance Award and has been recommended for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
This is not the first time Qureshi has forged a sporting alliance where politics has failed. In 2002, he teamed up with the Israeli player Amir Hadad for doubles tennis during Wimbledon and the US Open. This partnership won the duo the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award of the year -- but also earned Qureshi the ire of some of his countrymen. He was barred from the Davis Cup as a result.
Undeterred, Qureshi continued his tennis. In 2007 he teamed up with Rohan Bopanna and the 'Indo-Pak Express' was born. On the courts, the duo complement each other perfectly - and off it too, they share a great friendship. Bopanna is more aggressive, his comfort zone is the hard court and he plays from the baseline. Qureshi was raised on grass courts, he comes from old tennis stock and plays a serve-and-volley style.
As Bopanna and Qureshi made strides on the courts, they started creating waves off the courts with their 'Stop War, Start Tennis' towels and t-shirts. They have also expressed an interest in playing a game of tennis across Wagah border, with the Line of Control as a net.
The message is clear: Sports can transcend political boundaries. And Pakistan and India work much better when they come together. "We have always said sports can reach places where no religion or politics can reach," says Qureshi.
This was evident at the U.S. open finals where they played incredibly well, cheered on by their countrymen, indistinguishable from each other, rallying for the same team.
So here's a salute to Aisam and Rohan, the spirit of Aman ki Asha.
- Laleh Habib
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It's an unprecedented partnership, one that has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of Indians and Pakistanis. The 'Indo-Pak Express', as the tennis doubles team of Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna has come to be known, is on a winning trajectory. First they earned a spot at their maiden grand slam final in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. They then cruised on to the U.S. Open, defeating top seed players to reach the finals. This is truly historic, and not just because it is the first time that a Pakistani has reached the finals in a grand slam tournament. It is historic also because this is the first time that a Pakistani and an Indian have done this together.
This is why Qureshi and Boppanna are winners for millions of Indians and Pakistanis, despite losing - narrowly -- to the top seeded Bryan brothers at the US finals. They proved to the sporting community and to the world at large that Pakistan and India can work as a team.
Qureshi is Pakistan's most successful tennis player. He has earned Pakistan 46 Davis Cup ties in singles and in doubles events. He has received the Pride of Performance Award and has been recommended for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
This is not the first time Qureshi has forged a sporting alliance where politics has failed. In 2002, he teamed up with the Israeli player Amir Hadad for doubles tennis during Wimbledon and the US Open. This partnership won the duo the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award of the year -- but also earned Qureshi the ire of some of his countrymen. He was barred from the Davis Cup as a result.
Undeterred, Qureshi continued his tennis. In 2007 he teamed up with Rohan Bopanna and the 'Indo-Pak Express' was born. On the courts, the duo complement each other perfectly - and off it too, they share a great friendship. Bopanna is more aggressive, his comfort zone is the hard court and he plays from the baseline. Qureshi was raised on grass courts, he comes from old tennis stock and plays a serve-and-volley style.
As Bopanna and Qureshi made strides on the courts, they started creating waves off the courts with their 'Stop War, Start Tennis' towels and t-shirts. They have also expressed an interest in playing a game of tennis across Wagah border, with the Line of Control as a net.
The message is clear: Sports can transcend political boundaries. And Pakistan and India work much better when they come together. "We have always said sports can reach places where no religion or politics can reach," says Qureshi.
This was evident at the U.S. open finals where they played incredibly well, cheered on by their countrymen, indistinguishable from each other, rallying for the same team.
So here's a salute to Aisam and Rohan, the spirit of Aman ki Asha.
- Laleh Habib
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
INDO-PAK EXPRESS, YOU MAKE US PROUD
Aman ki Asha ambassador Aisam-ul-Haq Qureishi and Rohan Bopanna have shown that together we can win
Ilmana Fasih
The victory of Indo-Pak Express, Aisam u .....more
Aman ki Asha ambassador Aisam-ul-Haq Qureishi and Rohan Bopanna have shown that together we can winIlmana Fasih
The victory of Indo-Pak Express, Aisam u .....more
Indo-Pak Express: chugging for peace
The unique tennis doubles team, Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Indian Rohan Bopanna popularly known as 'Indo-Pak Express' have urged their governments to allow tennis
.....more
The unique tennis doubles team, Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Indian Rohan Bopanna popularly known as 'Indo-Pak Express' have urged their governments to allow tennis
.....more
Aisam returns home after winning more laurels
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna were unable to qualify for the Year-End Masters by the narrowest of margins af .....more
By our correspondentKARACHI: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna were unable to qualify for the Year-End Masters by the narrowest of margins af .....more
The Indo-Pak express of peace
Can a tennis duo bridge the bitter political divisions between Pakistan and India?
Riz Khan - Al Jazeera English TV Show
Can an unlikely tennis duo from .....more
Can a tennis duo bridge the bitter political divisions between Pakistan and India?Riz Khan - Al Jazeera English TV Show
Can an unlikely tennis duo from .....more
Aisam, Rohan win Peace and Sport award
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Indo-Pak Express comprising Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna has bagged another prestigious award for their peace mission.
T .....more
By our correspondentKARACHI: The Indo-Pak Express comprising Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna has bagged another prestigious award for their peace mission.
T .....more
Aisam-Bopanna to play for flood victims
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: It's not easy for one to get attention in Pakistan if you are standing next to Shahid Afridi.
But that's what Aisam-ul-Haq precis .....more
By Khalid Hussain KARACHI: It's not easy for one to get attention in Pakistan if you are standing next to Shahid Afridi.
But that's what Aisam-ul-Haq precis .....more
The spirit of Aman ki Asha
By Beena Sarwar
Unassuming, down-to-earth and soft spoken, tennis ace Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi embodies the spirit of Aman ki Asha, together with his Indian do .....more
By Beena SarwarUnassuming, down-to-earth and soft spoken, tennis ace Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi embodies the spirit of Aman ki Asha, together with his Indian do .....more
Aisam eyes maiden Grand Slam crown in 2011
KARACHI: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi may not have won a major title so far but he is already a sporting icon in Pakistan - a country that is facing a dearth of heroes these days
.....more
KARACHI: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi may not have won a major title so far but he is already a sporting icon in Pakistan - a country that is facing a dearth of heroes these days
.....more
Pakistan-India ‘peace’ pair advances to US Open final
NEW YORK: Taking the biggest steps yet in their quest to inspire peace between their homelands, India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi reached the US O
.....more
NEW YORK: Taking the biggest steps yet in their quest to inspire peace between their homelands, India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi reached the US O
.....more Page 1 of 1
Articles
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