Sport meets politics at the US Open

[TBF]

Qureshi uses U.S. Open platform to call for understanding

By Matt Majendie
NEW YORK | Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:14pm EDT

(Reuters) - Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi used the platform of the U.S. Open to deliver a message of peace on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

Qureshi lost in Friday's men's doubles final alongside India's Rohan Bopanna, the other half of a unique partnership nicknamed the "Indo-Pak Express."

In his on-court after-match speech, Qureshi said: "I feel there's a very wrong perception of Pakistan as a terrorist country.

"We are a very peace-loving country and we want peace as much as you."

Peace has very much been the message of Bopanna and Qureshi since their doubles partnership began with them sporting "Stop War, Start Tennis" sweatshirts in a bid to improve relations between their two countries.

Qureshi delved further into the message he was trying to get across at Arthur Ashe Stadium after the 7-6 7-6 defeat to Americans Bob and Mike Bryan.

"Since September 11, every time I come to the States or Western countries, I feel people have the wrong impression about Pakistan as a terrorist nation," he said.

"There are extremists I think in every religion but, just because of them, you can't judge the whole country as a terrorist nation.

"I just want to get this message across as a Pakistani."

... more at this link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6885M920100910

(Editing by Steve Ginsburg)

*Cross-posted in sports but also general political interest, particularly this weekend

[malaise]

1. Very cool

:applause:

[femrap]

2. His words are

the Truth.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. I watched this live on TV...

...and it was very moving. Class act doubles team all the way.

[Chemical Bill]

4. I didn't see the match but ...

they must be great to hold serve against the Bryan brothers. I like this use of a sporting event more than I like the Air Force flyovers and christian prayers.

Bill

[TBF]

7. He said it during the awards ceremony -

it was only a few words but he got the attention of everyone in the stadium plus being broadcasted world-wide. Very effective.

[leftstreet]

5. K&R

Nice article! Thanks for posting it

[pnorman]

6. This really brightened my day, and gave me reason for some (guarded) confidence in OUR future!

I'm not into sports, and most certainly NOT into tennis! But I've bookmarked his name, and I'll be Googling it from time to time.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[TBF]

8. LOL -

sports is the only reason I ever turn on the tv (and I'm female!) :)

And I completely agree that our hope has to be in the younger generations. These kinds of messages (including Obama's remarks at his press conference yesterday) are the first step toward healing.

[pnorman]

11. H. L..Mencken on sports:

"If I had my way no man guilty of golf would be eligible to any office of trust or profit under the United States, and all female athletes would be shipped to the white-slave corrals of the Argentine."

So LOL yourself, young lady! (Just kidding!)

What got my attention of course, was the Pakistan-India connection

[TBF]

12. Yes,

in post 10 I put up another article where they commented on that connection (leaders from both countries watching the match together). Nobody is expecting tennis to bring world peace, but it's a cool story.

[blindpig]

9. k&r

[TBF]

10. On a peace mission -

Another article talking about their activism -


'Indo-Pak Express' Gaining Steam

9/09/2010 11:30 PM ET By Greg Couch

NEW YORK -- The Prime Minister of Pakistan called him in the morning, and then word came that they are setting up theater-sized screens all around the city of Lahore, and maybe throughout Pakistan, to watch him play tennis.

Then Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi went out and played the mixed doubles finals at the U.S. Open Thursday.

In the end, Bob Bryan and Liezel Huber beat Qureshi and Kveta Peschke 6-4, 6-4.

But it was still another big day for Qureshi.

"I never, ever will forget this moment for the rest of my life," he said.

Qureshi is half of the Indo-Pak Express doubles team, with partner Rohan Bopanna of India (both pictured above, Bopanna on left, Qureshi on right). They are friends and partners from often warring, always threatening neighbor countries.

So they're sending a message, albeit one that started as an accident. They partnered a few years ago for tennis reasons, not political or social ones.

"What (he) and Bopanna are doing for world peace is incredible," Bryan said to the crowd at Ashe Stadium over the public address system in his victory speech. "These guys are great guys. Everyone in the locker room likes them."

He then said that he and his brother Mike would make a donation to flood relief in Pakistan. He did not specify an amount.

"Unbelievable gesture by them," Qureshi said. "More than 40 million people homeless. I really, really appreciate the gesture."

...

On Wednesday, the Pakistani and Indian ambassadors to the U.N. sat together to watch their semifinal match. Both vowed to return Friday.

(more at link)

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2010/09/09/indo-pak-express-gaining-steam/

[maryf]

13. K&Rnt