The Junaid Family Foundation (JFF) has announced its sponsorship of the World Tennis Women’s 15,000 Futures Tournament, scheduled to take place in Islamabad from October 12 to 17.
Organisers said the event will mark a significant development for women’s tennis in Pakistan. It is being described as the first World Tennis women’s event to be hosted in the country.
The tournament has been sanctioned by World Tennis and is being organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF). Around 40 international players are expected to travel to Islamabad for the competition.
The foreign players will compete alongside emerging Pakistani female tennis players. The event is expected to give local athletes an opportunity to face international opponents on home soil and gain valuable competitive experience.
JFF said its decision to sponsor the tournament reflects its broader commitment to women’s empowerment, health and wellbeing. The foundation said the event would also provide an international platform to highlight the achievements and potential of women athletes in Pakistan.
JFF Chairman Ansir Junaid said the foundation’s support for women went beyond healthcare services. He said promoting women’s health also involved creating opportunities for women and girls to participate, compete and achieve recognition.
The foundation has previously worked on healthcare and development initiatives in Pakistan. Its programmes have included major maternal and child nutrition projects.
Junaid said the tennis tournament represented an expansion of the foundation’s efforts into an area that could promote women’s visibility and wellbeing through sport. He said supporting elite athletes could also help draw greater attention to the health and development of women and girls across the country.
He noted that the tournament would be part of an important period for women’s tennis in Pakistan. Another Futures tournament is scheduled to follow, while the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania competition is also expected to bring further attention to women’s tennis.
According to JFF, the participation of international players could provide Pakistani athletes with an opportunity to test themselves against overseas competitors. It could also help local players gain exposure to a higher level of international competition without travelling abroad.
The foundation said its sponsorship was aligned with its wider objective of supporting initiatives that create opportunities for women and girls. It said such programmes can contribute to their development, participation and visibility in society.
JFF operates in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States, as well as in Pakistan. Its work covers healthcare and development, education, equity and diversity, and civic engagement.
The foundation said its programmes are aimed at addressing generational poverty and creating pathways towards long-term prosperity. Women and children remain an important focus of its development-related activities.
