Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna awarded 2010 Grand Prix of Peace and Sports
The recently acclaimed team of Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna were given another award for their peace efforts on Thursday. The “Indo-Pak Express” was given the 2010 Grand Prix award of Peace and Sports, at the fourth International Forum of Peace and Sports, in Monaco.
The pair’s rise to fame came in early September, when they made it to the doubles final, of the United States Open. Although they lost the final match to the Bryans, Bob and Mike; Qureshi and Bopanna made it into the spotlight and so did their slogan, “Stop War, Start Tennis”. The pair was presented the award by the Crown Prince Albert of Monaco and Joel Bouzou. Bouzou is the president and founder of Peace and Sport Foundation. The “Indo Pak Express” was given the award, in recognition of their efforts to promote peace between Pakistan and India. Their citation of the award handed out in the ceremony said,
“Their commitment to promoting peace between the two countries and their conviction that peace was possible was shown amply during the year. In the US Open tournament they managed to bring together the ambassadors of India and Pakistan to support the same team.”
Bouzou, while handing the award to them, requested their respective governments to allow the pair to play a symbolic tennis match, at the Wagah border check post. He asked them,
“The sport is ready for peace. Will the two governments rise to the occasion?”
Bopanna reportedly twittered from his account that it was a great feeling, to have won the Image of the Year award. Qureshi and Bopanna’s peace slogan also fetched them the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award, at the Barclays ATP World Tour Final last week at the O2 Arena, London. The two players were very happy to be on the same list as, Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg and Nelson Mandela. They were thankful for the opportunity, to spread the message of peace and hoped that it reached back home.
Both players strongly believe in the fact that prejudice and negativities, of both countries, can be countered by coming together on the courts. The thirty-year-old, from Lahore, insisted,
“The beauty of sport is that it brings together different cultures and religions. It is free from all the conflicts. I play with Rohan and the federation president and sports authorities accept our partnership. I think it has gotten the message that I am trying to promote tennis in Pakistan.”
Although the pair hasn’t won many titles in the ATP season this year, neither were they able to make it into the elite eight teams at the season finale, still their message of peace has kept them in the spotlight, all year round.
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