09-14-2010, 12:15 PM
NEW YORK – Placing Pakistan on the world tennis map was not the only feat of Aisamul Haq Qureshi. He did much, much more for his beleaguered homeland.
The 30-year-old Pakistani champion has earned enormous respect and prestige over the years and now he has stepped up the world tennis ladder by vigorously pleading the cause of his flood-hit country, which is often depicted in the US as a sponsor of terrorism.
Despite going down fighting to the top-seeded American pair in the US Open Tennis Tournament, Qureshi has done something that the Pakistani politicians and diplomats have failed to do. He took the microphone and addressed the estimated 15,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, probably the biggest crowd to watch a Grand Slam doubles final, saying the Americans needed his words the most.
“I want to say something on behalf of all Pakistanis,” he said following Friday’s 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) defeat to the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike.
“It is wrong perception that Pakistan is a terrorist country,” he told the cheering crowd and millions of people watching the final on television around the world.
“We are a friendly, loving, caring people and we want peace as much as you guys want it. May God love us all,” he added.
The stadium crowd gave him a standing ovation and his moving words brought tears to Bob’s eyes. His doubles partner, Rohan Bopanna of India, stood by him. Together, they’ve formed the politically charged tandem known as the Indo-Pak Express.
Qureshi opened his remarks with “Eid Mubarak” to his countrymen and to Muslims all over the world. “My parents are watching in Pakistan, and I love you all,” he said, adding that it was also his sister’s birthday.
Later, Qureshi expanded on what he had told the crowd.
“There are extremists in every religion, but just because of them you cannot judge the whole country as a terrorist nation. I just wanted to get this message across as a Pakistani,” he added.
UN ambassadors from Pakistan and India — Abdullah Hussain Haroon and Hardeep Singh Puri respectively — sat side-by-side in the President’s Box, the second straight match they’ve attended together, cheering the unexpected struggle their team put up against arguably the greatest doubles team of all time, the Bryan brothers. The 16th seeded Qureshi and Bopanna followed up their run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals with five wins in the Flushing Meadows, the venue of US Open tournament.
The 30-year-old Pakistani champion has earned enormous respect and prestige over the years and now he has stepped up the world tennis ladder by vigorously pleading the cause of his flood-hit country, which is often depicted in the US as a sponsor of terrorism.
Despite going down fighting to the top-seeded American pair in the US Open Tennis Tournament, Qureshi has done something that the Pakistani politicians and diplomats have failed to do. He took the microphone and addressed the estimated 15,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, probably the biggest crowd to watch a Grand Slam doubles final, saying the Americans needed his words the most.
“I want to say something on behalf of all Pakistanis,” he said following Friday’s 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) defeat to the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike.
“It is wrong perception that Pakistan is a terrorist country,” he told the cheering crowd and millions of people watching the final on television around the world.
“We are a friendly, loving, caring people and we want peace as much as you guys want it. May God love us all,” he added.
The stadium crowd gave him a standing ovation and his moving words brought tears to Bob’s eyes. His doubles partner, Rohan Bopanna of India, stood by him. Together, they’ve formed the politically charged tandem known as the Indo-Pak Express.
Qureshi opened his remarks with “Eid Mubarak” to his countrymen and to Muslims all over the world. “My parents are watching in Pakistan, and I love you all,” he said, adding that it was also his sister’s birthday.
Later, Qureshi expanded on what he had told the crowd.
“There are extremists in every religion, but just because of them you cannot judge the whole country as a terrorist nation. I just wanted to get this message across as a Pakistani,” he added.
UN ambassadors from Pakistan and India — Abdullah Hussain Haroon and Hardeep Singh Puri respectively — sat side-by-side in the President’s Box, the second straight match they’ve attended together, cheering the unexpected struggle their team put up against arguably the greatest doubles team of all time, the Bryan brothers. The 16th seeded Qureshi and Bopanna followed up their run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals with five wins in the Flushing Meadows, the venue of US Open tournament.