LAHORE: National level ranking tennis made a long awaited comeback to Sahiwal on Tuesday as the All Pakistan Juniors/Seniors National Ranking Tennis Championship 2026 opened at Sahiwal Club, drawing more than 150 players from across the country. The six day tournament, running until June 7, marks the first time in nearly three decades that a national event of this scale has been staged in the city and has been welcomed as a major boost for regional sport.
The championship features a comprehensive programme across age groups and categories: men’s singles and doubles (Punjab Ranking), seniors 45+ and 55+ doubles, boys and girls U 18, U 14 and U 12 singles and doubles, and boys and girls U 10 singles. The breadth of events has attracted a mix of established provincial players, rising juniors and local hopefuls, creating a competitive environment that tournament organisers say will help identify talent for higher level pathways.
The opening ceremony drew a strong civic presence. Commissioner Sahiwal Division Dr Asif Tufail attended as chief guest and praised the collaborative effort between the district administration and Sahiwal Club for reviving national tennis in the city. Deputy Commissioner Capt (R) Samiullah Farooq served as guest of honour. In his remarks, Dr Tufail described the event as a matter of pride for Sahiwal and urged local stakeholders to capitalise on the momentum to make the championship an annual fixture.
Tournament director Rashid Malik, a former Davis Cup player and recipient of the Sitara i Imtiaz and Tamgha i Imtiaz, is overseeing the event. Malik emphasised the championship’s role in talent development and called on young players to compete with determination and sportsmanship. “This tournament is an opportunity for emerging players to test themselves against the best in the country and to stake a claim for future national selection,” he said, while thanking the Commissioner’s office for its support and expressing hope that Sahiwal will host the event regularly.
Operational leadership for the championship includes Faheem Siddiqui as tournament referee and Hamza Naeem as event coordinator. A disciplinary committee chaired by Rashid Malik, with members Salman Habib (Sports Secretary), Mian Naveed Malik, Ch Asif and Nathan Asher, has been established to ensure fair play and adherence to regulations.
