In recent times, the relations between Pakistan and India have gone from bad to worse. The political differences between the two nations have caused a lot of problems for the citizens of both the countries. There have been many teams who have been denied
to go to India by the Pakistani government due to differences between the two nations and same is the case on the other side of the border.
If any competition was seen, it was in the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games where the two nations fought for glory against each other. There has been a very intense situation for both the countries but all this has not affected the relationship of the
Indo-Pak express. Two of these gentlemen, Rohan Bopanna from India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi from Pakistan have stayed together and played together for both India and Pakistan as a team.
Although both India and Pakistan have been unable to resolve any issues at the political level, these two players have been the ambassadors of peace and have set an example for their respective countries. Speaking the same language, eating the same food
and having a familiar culture has brought these two closer to each other on the Tennis courts and they have proved to the world that they have a lot to offer on the highest levels.
At the start of the year 2010, both Aisam and Rohan were unseeded and from there on, both of them played 23 tournaments to be amongst the top ten Doubles teams at the end of the year. Both of these players reached seven tour finals in the year and their
biggest achievement was reaching the finals of the US Open which they eventually lost to the Bryans but not before giving them a hard time.
Aisam and Rohan are currently placed at the number eight spot in the team rankings. At one stage they were at number six and if they would have maintained that position, they would have qualified for the ATP World tour finals. They would still be quite happy
with the way things have gone for them and the world number one team of the Bryan brothers has also regarded them as top players. According to the Bryan’s, the Indo-Pak express will definitely be a part of the coming year’s ATP World Tour Finals.
Apart from winning a number of matches and performing exceptionally at the highest level, the Indo-Pak express has done a great deal of work to spread peace worldwide. They received the 2010 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian award. Aisam had been awarded before with
this honour back in 2002. Aisam was also elected as the United Nations Goodwill ambassador. He is also a member of the “Champions for Peace” club, which is a Monaco-based international organisation working for peace via sports. Aisam will receive the Sitara-e-Imtiaz
in 2011 from the president of Pakistan and will be only the third sportsman to receive this award, the others being Imran Khan and Jahangir Khan.
Both Aisam and Rohan will be playing charity matches for the flood victims in Pakistan in December. Due to their exceptional performance in the year 2010 and their work for peace, the duo got popular globally. The proof of that was the fans poll which was
conducted by the ATPWorldtour.com and the duo ended up third in that poll.
With their mission to spread peace worldwide and to continue performing the way they have been in 2010, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna have made their name in the international arena. They have carried the image of their respective nations as peace
loving nations and given a strong message to the world of spreading peace via sports.
Both these players will be hoping to do well in the coming season and being seeded in top tournaments will do a lot to their confidence levels. The Indo-Pak express will be looking to start the next season on a high with strong performances not only for
their improved rankings but also for a bigger cause of spreading peace.
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