NEW YORK — Taking the biggest steps yet in their quest to inspire peace between their homelands, India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi reached the US Open tennis championships men’s doubles final on Wednesday.
With United Nations ambassadors from their countries sitting side-by-side to cheer them on, Qureshi and Bopanna beat Argentina’s Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zaballos 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
“I always believed we would have to do well in the Grand Slams to get the message across,” Qureshi said. “Them coming to watch us here, it’s a big step. They were very encouraging. They said what we are doing is a great thing.
“It just feels like us doing well on the bigger level is getting the message across throughout the world — if me and Rohan can get along so well there’s no reason the Indians and Pakistanis can’t get along with each other.”
In a breakthrough on the court, they will face US top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in today’s final.
“I’m really looking forward to the finals against the Bryans,” Bopanna said. “To be the best you have to beat the best.”
The ambassadors will be back to watch and so will India and Pakistan fans, cheering together for once.
“They’re all mixed together sitting in the crowd. You can’t tell who is Pakistani and who is Indian,” Qureshi said. “That’s the beauty about sports. Before our pairing you would never see that in any sports, fighting for one cause. It’s really good to be part of it.”
Solving political issues between governments is less of a goal than bringing people together.
“We’re not looking into any political part or anything to do with whatever is happening,” Bopanna said. “If even two or three per cent of people say, ‘If they can get along why can’t we?’ that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Qureshi hopes he can change US perceptions regarding Pakistan and the Muslim faith.
“Today was a small step toward (peace),” Qureshi said.
“We always said sports can reach places where no religion or politics can reach. I think it’s above all the religion and politics.
“The western world and America, they have a very wrong perception about Muslim and Pakistan,” he said. “Their perception of Pakistan being a terrorist country is definitely very wrong.
“We do have terrorist groups. We do have extremists. But I feel like (in) every religion there are extremists. It doesn’t mean the whole nation is terrorist or extremist.
“The only reason we actually are getting so many terrorist attacks is because we are allies with America and the western world in fighting this cause.”
Qureshi, who will also play in mixed doubles final with Czech partner Kveta Peschke against Americans Bob Bryan and Liezel Huber, dedicated his efforts to the 21 million flood victims in Pakistan.
In New Delhi, Indian Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill said he hoped Bopanna and Qureshi would go on to win the title.
“They combine very well and have total understanding,” Gill said. “I pray for their win.
“I have one question for everyone. If Bopanna and Qureshi can play together, why cannot India and Pakistan?” — AFP