Junaid Family Foundation sponsors Pakistan’s first international women’s tennis tournament

CLEVELAND, OHIO: The Junaid Family Foundation (JFF) has announced its sponsorship of the World Tennis Women’s 15,000 Futures Tennis Tournament, scheduled to be held in Islamabad from October 12 to 17. Organisers describe the event as the first World Tennis women’s tournament to be hosted in Pakistan.

Sanctioned by World Tennis and organised in partnership with the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), the tournament is expected to attract around 40 international players to Islamabad. They will compete alongside emerging Pakistani female tennis players.

JFF said its sponsorship is part of its broader commitment to women’s empowerment, health and wellbeing, while also providing an international platform to highlight the achievements of women athletes.

The foundation has been involved in healthcare and development programmes in Pakistan, including large-scale maternal and child nutrition initiatives. It said supporting the tennis tournament represents an expansion of its work beyond direct health interventions towards initiatives that promote women’s visibility, achievement and wellbeing.

“Investing in women’s health has always meant more to us than clinical interventions,” said Ansir Junaid, Chairman of the Junaid Family Foundation.

“This tournament lets us support world-class athletes while putting a spotlight on the health and wellbeing of women and girls across Pakistan.”

He said the event would be part of an important period for women’s tennis in Pakistan, with another Futures Tournament to follow and the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania competition also bringing attention to women’s tennis.

“Our title sponsorship would associate the foundation’s work with a landmark event for women’s sport in Pakistan while helping the tournament reach international tennis audiences,” he said.

The participation of around 40 overseas players is also expected to give Pakistani female players an opportunity to compete against international athletes on home soil and gain greater exposure to competitive international tennis.

The foundation said its involvement reflects its wider objective of supporting platforms that create opportunities for women and girls while promoting their health, development and participation in public life.

The Junaid Family Foundation operates in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States, as well as internationally in Pakistan. Its initiatives focus on healthcare and development, education, equity and diversity, and civic engagement.

The foundation says its programmes aim to address generational poverty and create opportunities for long-term prosperity, with women and children forming an important part of its development work.

The October tournament will bring international women’s tennis to Islamabad while giving Pakistan’s emerging female players an opportunity to compete on home soil in an international event.