KARACHI: Pakistan’s wheelchair tennis team, which is participating in ITF Wheelchair World Team Cup Asia Qualification in Colombo, faced a major setback as one of its key players could not join the team due to closure of airspace at Doha airport.
According to details, Asif Abbassi, who was instrumental in helping Pakistan won bronze medal in this championship in 2025, was supposed to join the national team from the United Kingdom.
“He was travelling by Qatar Airways and his flight took off from Heathrow Airport but couldn’t not land at Doha airport for its stopover because the air space got closed that day due to airstrikes by Iran.
“His flight therefore returned to the United Kingdom and it got cancelled. It was a major blow to Pakistani team. We had no option then but to field only two players in the competition,” informed Khalid Rehmani, the team’s manager, from Sri Lanka.
In the round robin, Pakistan played against top ranked team of the event South Korea and lost both singles and doubles matches. In the men’s singles, Lee Jihwan beat Firas Muhammad 6-0, 6-1 and IM Howam defeated Fida Hussain 6-0, 6-0.
In the doubles category, Korea thrashed Pakistan 6-0, 6-0. It is pertinent to mention here that South Korea, Chinese Taipie, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan are taking part in this event from March 2-6. Pakistan’s team comprised Asif Abbasi, Fida Hussain, and M Firas.
