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Indo-Pak 'peace pair' in US Open finals

BANGALORE: Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, tennis world's Indo-Pak Express, stormed into the US Open men's doubles final early on Thursday, downing Argentina's Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zaballos 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in the semifinals, before scores of Indians and Pakistanis who cheered in one voice. 'Indo-Pak' has never sounded sweeter. The 16th-seed combination, who played their maiden Grand Slam semifinal before an audience that included the United Nations ambassadors of India and Pakistan, Hardeep Puri and Abdullah H Haroon, will take on the top-seeded American pair of Bob and Mike Bryan in the title round late on Friday. "We knew, to do well in the big events was the only way to pass on that message (of peace)... Hopefully with that, and, you know, both our countries agreeing we can have that match up on that border," Bopanna told reporters after the match. "I see Qureshi from Lahore and Bopanna from Bangalore combining like brothers," sports minister MS Gill told TOI. "I have one question for everyone. If Bopanna and Qureshi can play together, why cannot India and Pakistan." Meanwhile, the deadly duo claimed that they are up to the challenge of taking on the best team in the business. Bopanna said: "To win a Grand Slam you have to beat the best there is. We have to go there and play our games, we beat them (Bryan twins) a few weeks ago. We are looking forward to the final." The pair, that has come through some tight matches, the quarters and semifinal of the US Open included, said 'trust' was a big part of their partnership. On cloud nine after making the US Open men's doubles final with his Pakistani partner Asiam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Bangalorean Rohan Bopanna explained, "The fact that we get along so well off the court makes it easier on court. Believing in each other I think is what is getting us through, every game. The way we see it, there is nobody there. It is just between him and me. We keep telling each other that it is just the two of us here to play and win." Bopanna's parents - father Bopanna, a coffee planter in Coorg, and mother Malika - flew out to New York on Thursday along with a few cousins of the 30-year-old to catch the final. In Bangalore, the tennis fraternity and the Coorgi community are sure to catch Friday's late-night affair on TV. The networking sites too are abuzz with messages urging every Indian and Pakistani in New York to book a seat at the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the doubles final. The twosome, torchbearers of the 'Stop War, Start Tennis' international peace campaign, have brought a whole new community to tennis, the Indo-Pak family. The Indian said, "They (Bryan brothers) will have home support, but we've played enough Davis Cup to know that pressure. We just have to block out everyone and play our game." Against the fancied Bryans on Friday, Bopanna and Qureshi will need to play their best game on court. Qureshi, who has also made the mixed-doubles final along with Czech Kveta Peschke, will square off against top-seeds Lizel Huber and Bob Bryan in the mixed-doubles title clash late on Thursday. Doubtless then that one team will come into the men's doubles final with some extra momentum. Qureshi said, "These two weeks have been a dream come true. I can't thank Rohan enough for being my partner. Pakistan has been going through a lot in the last two or three years - all the terrorist attacks, the floods and now the cricket scandal. I'm happy that I can send positive news back home." Qureshi added: "I feel the western world and America have a wrong perception about Muslims and Pakistan. We do have terrorist groups, we do have extremists, but like every religion there are extremists there. It doesn't mean that the whole nation is terrorist or extremist. Pakistan is a peace-loving country. Everybody loves sports. Everybody wants peace."

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