STOP WAR, START TENNIS

[GUNNER]

Pakistan-India 'Stop War, Start Tennis' Pair Advances

LONDON, June 29, 2010 (AFP) - India's Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani doubles partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi will face Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after their victory Tuesday.

Austria's Melzer and Germany's Petzschner beat Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun and Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday to set up a clash with Bopanna and Qureshi in the last eight.

The unusual Indian-Pakistani pairing have been going around the All England Club wearing tracksuit tops reading "Stop War, Start Tennis" on the back.

Reaching the quarter-finals is the best-ever Grand Slam performance for either Bopanna or Qureshi.

"When we started out in tennis the tension between India and Pakistan wasn't something I cared about, I was playing with my friend," Qureshi told the BBC.

"Over the passage of time, we've seen a bigger picture apart from tennis, and it's about changing people's views. If we can change even one person's view, we'll take it as a positive.

"It's really nice to see Indians and Pakistanis sitting together supporting one team. You don't see that anywhere else, in any sport. Our on-court and off-court relationship proves that Indians and Pakistanis can get on fine."

 

[GUNNER]

LONDON, June 30, 2010 (AFP) - India's Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani doubles partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who have made waves at Wimbledon with their "Stop War, Start Tennis" jackets, lost their quarter-final on Wednesday.

They were knocked out in straight sets by Juergen Melzer of Austria and Germany's Philipp Petzschner, who won 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to progress to the men's doubles semi-finals.

Qureshi had become the first Pakistani player to reach the last eight of any section of this Grand Slam event but his hopes of progressing further were snuffed out by the European pair.

Reaching the quarter-finals is the best-ever Grand Slam performance for Bopanna too.

The unusual Indian-Pakistani pairing have been going around the All England Club wearing anti-war tracksuit tops reading "Stop War, Start Tennis" on the back.

The first two sets were tight with no breaks of serve, apart from in the very first game of the match when Melzer and Petzschner broke, while the second set went to a tie-break.

But in the third set Bopanna dropped his serve twice -- in the third and seventh games -- and the pair bowed out of the tournament after a match that lasted just an hour and 37 minutes.

 

[GUNNER]

LONDON, June 30, 2010 (AFP) - India's Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani doubles partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi claimed they had achieved their goal despite losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The unusual pairing, who have made waves at the All England Club this year with their 'Stop War, Start Tennis' jackets, were beaten 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 by Juergen Melzer of Austria and Germany's Philipp Petzschner.

"We didn't have the best start," Qureshi told AFP.

"We were a bit nervous in the beginning, playing in the quarter-finals for the first time -- it was a learning experience.

"Our goal was to make it to the quarter-finals. It was a realistic goal and we have done it.

We are very proud of ourselves to have done it. We have a lot of positives to take out of our experience.

"We still have another Grand Slam to go this year and we are going to learn from this and do well there."

 

[GUNNER]

Bopanna, Qureshi plan cross-border match

By Adam Hathaway (AFP)

LONDON — Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna are aiming to play an extraordinary tennis match to promote peace between the two countries -- using the famous Wagah border as the net.

The duo were knocked out of the Wimbledon's men's doubles quarter-finals here on Wednesday -- their best-ever Grand Slam performance -- but caused a stir by wearing jackets emblazoned with the slogan 'Stop War, Start Tennis'.

The pair will be wearing the tracksuit tops when they play at the US Open and are mulling over a new logo to decorate them with in New York.

And now they are seeking permission to face each other with the net on the Radcliffe Line that has divided the village of Wagah since 1947, with Qureshi playing on the Indian side and Bopanna on the Pakistani side.

"It is an idea we have had but there is a lot of time before we get to it because both countries have to approve it first and that is the process that is going on," Bopanna told AFP.

"The idea is there for him to play in India and me to play in Pakistan.

"That is the idea but it needs to be approved and until that happens nothing can be done."

Wagah is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan. Every evening, thousands gather to watch the colourful flag-lowering ceremonies there and the energetic soldiers' parade.

The border post is often seen as a symbol of the tension between the two countries.

But Bopanna and Qureshi hope their continuing friendship, on and off the tennis court, will help encourage a more peaceful relationship between the neighbours.

"The first time I went to India I was 16 and Rohan was their top junior," Qureshi said.

"I have played with a lot of Indians before but there are no Pakistanis on the tour and India is definitely the closest to Pakistan and he has been my best friend on the tour.

"We share the same language, we share the same culture and concepts so it makes life much easier on the road.

"In the beginning we didn't realise the importance of our relationship and partnership.

"But we realised that looking at the bigger picture, if we could send a positive message to the people in Pakistan and in India then it is a really good thing.

"We have had three wars against each other. We used to be one country but we got separated -- there are still a lot of diplomatic tensions but at the end of the day on either side the people are very, very friendly and loving.

"Every time I have gone to India I have been treated with respect and people really like me there.

"It has been a great experience every time I go there and the message is not to bring politics, culture and religion into sports.

"That is what we are trying to give out to the people. If we can both get along well then I am sure a lot of other Pakistanis and Indians can get along as well. If we can change a few people's minds it is a very positive thing.

"Here you could see Indian and Pakistani people sitting together supporting one team. It is a nice thing to see."

 

[fawwaxs]

stop war, play tennis! must say quereshi and bopanna have made my week.

 

[Frankenstein]

LONDON — Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna are aiming to play an extraordinary tennis match to promote peace between the two countries -- using the famous Wagah border as the net.

Jokes aside, congratulations to both nations India and Pakistan, after a long time both flags stand together well after wagah border

 

[Capt.Popeye]

This is VERY GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US!

Personally, i feel very proud and happy for two reasons:

Firstly, this is good news for the world of sports and sportsmen in Pakistan; where unfortunately the controversy surrounding the cricket team hung like a pall of deep gloom. i saw Aisam speak about the victory and his hope that it would sweep away that gloom. i believe it will; and it will help people in Pakistan to focus on the fact that while there are some (or many) things which are not alright in the world of sport, there are things that 'very right' in the world. Maybe that is Aisam's real "gift" to his country.

Secondly, this is a real fruit of 'joint-manship'; and believe it or not, by citizens of two countries with such a convoluted relationship. May be some lesson for us?

Lastly, may i suggest/propose that we hope/cheer/pray for "our team" of these two young and promising sportsmen so that they reach the top of the tournament.

After that, if we feel like; we can go back to our "old ways" and jump at each other.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Yeah and it pays well too almost $500,000 USD with out need to be concerned about illegal gambling

 

[Imran Khan]

hope they win always . but who we devide the trophy hehehehhe

 

[UNNAME_FIGHTER]

hope they win always . but who we devide the trophy hehehehhe

hehe any time did you analysis why they win always

due to their silence and every intellectual player make silence in their passion.... as well as

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I am suprised why more boxers did not come out of pakistan in Professional circuit they are there in Olympics if may be Pakistani players get some help they could be earning 100,000-300,000 USD and paying taxes on it ... in an ideal world

 

[siegecrossbow]

hope they win always . but who we devide the trophy hehehehhe

Hold a cricket match over it.

 

[InPhilTraitor]

Boppana and Qureshi lost in the US Open doubles final.