Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna lost the US Open men’s doubles final to US top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan on Friday but were winners in their wider mission to inspire peace.
With United Nations ambassadors Hardeep Singh Puri of India and Abdullah Hussain Haroon of Pakistan sitting together cheering on the “Indo-Pak Express”, Qureshi and Bopanna were beaten by the top-ranked duo 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).
“This has been the best match we ever played. These guys played incredible. We had to step up and match their energy,” Bob Bryan said. “Maybe it’s lifting their games they are playing for the world not just for India and Pakistan.”
Bopanna and Qureshi, who promote peace between their feuding homelands, raised their game on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
As issues of a building a mosque near the 9/11 attack site in New York and possible burning of Korans in Florida threaten to pull apart America and the Muslim world, Qureshi made an appeal for understanding.
“I feel there’s a very wrong perception of Pakistan as a terrorist country,” Qureshi said. “We are a friendly, caring and peace-loving country and we want peace as much as you all.”
Qureshi drew a standing ovation from fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It choked me up,” Bob Bryan said. “He was quivering a little bit. Just to give that message to everyone was very heartfelt.
“What they are doing is a lot more important than winning the US Open.”
Qureshi, who said he always has a long immigration wait before being allowed entry to the United States when he arrives at New York, admitted, “It was pretty heavy talking to so many people.
—AFP