Islamabad, April 8, 2026(Kamran Raja): The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has officially announced the commencement of the ITF Pakistan 3rd Zainab Ali Naqvi Memorial World Junior Tennis Championship 2026 (Leg-1), which began on April 6, 2026, at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad.
The prestigious international event has attracted emerging tennis talent from across the globe, with a total of 39 players — 24 boys and 15 girls — representing 14 countries, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
The championship is being held in memory of Zainab Ali Naqvi, a promising young tennis player from Karachi who tragically passed away on February 12, 2024, after suffering a heart attack during an ITF Junior Tournament in Islamabad. The event stands as a tribute to her passion for the sport and aims to preserve her legacy within the international tennis community.
President PTF Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, along with Secretary General Col. Zia-ud-Din Tufail and other officials, paid heartfelt tribute to Zainab. They emphasized that the tournament is a meaningful initiative to honor her memory while promoting junior tennis development in Pakistan.
The PTF extended a warm welcome to all participating players and officials, expressing confidence that the championship will showcase high-quality tennis and foster international sportsmanship.