“Indo-Pak Express” doing well at U.S Open

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Hey tennis fans, have you been paying attention to the nice run by Indian Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani doubles partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi at the U.S. Open in New York [thanks for the tip, Abe]? Can I get a “South Asia, represent” from the crowd?

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi looked around the perimeter of the court Tuesday and saw what he’d hoped for. They were sitting together.

Pakistanis and Indians, blurred along the bleachers, one just like the other. They were clapping for the same thing. Cheering in unison…

“There was a lot of Pakistanis and Indians in the crowd cheering for us,” Qureshi said. “And you couldn’t tell the difference, who was Pakistani and who was Indian, they were all mixed together and supporting the same team.” [Link]

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p>And they won their match yesterday to advance:

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi progressed to the men’s doubles pre-quarterfinals of US Open with a straight-set win over German-Finn pair of Michael Kohlmann and Jarkko Nieminen.

The 16th seed Indo-Pak pair defeated their opponents 6-4 6-4 in the second round of the season’s last Grand Slam. [Link]

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p>Were any of you there at the Open? Anyone see the match? Would love to see some pictures of the crowd.

The duo next play second seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic in the third round.

54 thoughts on ““Indo-Pak Express” doing well at U.S Open”

  2. They beat the second seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic in the third round 6-3, 6-4 and are into the quarter-finals.

  4. “And you couldn’t tell the difference, who was Pakistani and who was Indian, they were all mixed together and supporting the same team.”

    That’s because prior to 1947, there was no difference.

    Let’s face it. Partition was a colossal mistake. The typical Indian and Pakistani can’t tell each other apart on the streets of Jackson Heights, much less Amritsar. It was a power grab by the elite, pure and simple, throwing the subcontinent into decades of disarray.

  5. “It was a power grab by the elite, pure and simple, throwing the subcontinent into decades of disarray.”

    simple indeed. a “power grab” is almost always by elites 🙂

    i think there’s a big difference between jackson heights and amritsar. apples & oranges.

  6. Well, in my humble opinion, the best thing that Asia could do is to try and get along with each other. That includes India, Pakistan, China and all the other Asian countries. They should see what mistakes the west has made (ie two world wars) and try not to repeat them. If Asia wishes to be a strong power then they need the strength to realize what needs to be done and stop fighting amongst themselves. As a unit India, China and the other asian countries could be unstoppable of they formed some sort of coalition. Look at how the west has organised itself (eg European Union and the fact that they all pretty much follow the lead of the US). Also, pretty much all countries in the west often back each other up, at least in military conflicts.

    The real key to future development of Asia and the world in general is that of cooperation and brotherhood, not war and division. Anything that helps to bring that closer together is a good thing in my book, so I will be supporting these guys if it helps in any small way.

    Also, before partition, muslims and hindus lived together in peace as brothers. A return to that state should be welcomed not derided. I am interested to know who put the idea of partition into the mix anyway? We all know that part of the British plan was always to divide and conquer – was this their parting shot to us? And, as usual, we fell for the madness.

    Asia needs to wake up and examine itself. It needs to accept that it can and will be running the world soon, but only through cooperation and mutual respect, not by playing into the hands of a plan engendered by the west.

  7. Wonderful combo hope they go on to win.

    Tragic that the PTF interfered before when Qureshi had paired off with a Jewish player. But judging by the chaos of the PCB I don’t put much hope in our sporting bodies despite the huge raw talent they have at their disposal. Great thing about Pakistani sports (as the recent Guardian article highlighted) they are rapidly becoming democratized, specially cricket.

    Think in Hockey Indo-Pak need to go back to grass and ditch the astroturf or so I’ve heard.

    Bit by bit liberalism enters the Pakistani mainstream.

  9. This is the feel-good story for me today. This would give my Pakistani friends and I more reasons to celebrate. The Pakistanis that I know of here are great people, especially if they were born/raised outside of Pakistan. The NRP, just like the NRI, tends to be more broad-minded.

    Now, if Mr. Bopanna can raise awareness of how the Indian government is NOT doing much in terms of flood relief for the poor Pakistanis, that would be an ace.

  10. Oh let this be a sports related discussion… sports related. sports related. there, said it at least three times. I’ll open my eyes in a little bit.

  11. Thanks for sharing! These guys are heroes for brown folk across the world– fingers crossed that they win!

    Add this to Sania marrying Shoaib– are brown tennis players the key to peace in the Desh…?

  12. Geez, some people just don’t get it. No worries. I will keep deleting and banning until you do. Man will not descend on one of my posts 🙂

  13. I’m glad they won!

    @THE NORTH STAR: Yes, they are definitely heroes to us brown folks.

    @Chaitan: Oh, come on! You know that people never stick to the subject here. LOL. But the many different paths the conversation takes is cool. So long as it’s kept civil.

  14. Hey Abhi can you please delete my “players” are indistinguishable because it doesn’t make sense.

  15. This story makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. What a nice thing to see. Thanks for posting, Abhi. You always post stories that bring people together. Thank you.

    Also, your threads are always the best moderated. Thank you for that too.

    There is a lot more to love between these historically-one nations. Our roots go deep, however much HinJews now might want to argue otherwise while aligning to new artificial locations of power.

    South Asia Zindabad.

    [admin note: though we do not condone use of the word Hinjew in a derogatory manner, it is being left here since it is the first use of this term on this website in a derogatory manner, and thus serves as a comment worth leaving up given the couple of comments following which point it out]

  16. Let me guess, the tall, well-built player is Pakistani and the short, sort of chubby one is Indian?

  17. @jetsfan

    “Let me guess, the tall, well-built player is Pakistani and the short, sort of chubby one is Indian?”

    Nope, other way around.

  18. “Now, if Mr. Bopanna can raise awareness of how the Indian government is NOT doing much in terms of flood relief for the poor Pakistanis, that would be an ace.”

    If the response to this bit of erroneous information was deleted, then perhaps the error itself should be deleted.

    Qureshi and Bopanna have had quite a good year, being in a few finals and winning and ATP title. Knocking off the second seeded Nestor/Zimonjic (both long-time career doubles players) so easily is impressive, even if doubles isn’t as glamorous as it used to be or as glamorous as the main singles draw. And whilst it would be hard for them to completely leave politics out of the equation, I hope it doesn’t affect their game. Perhaps they will go on to be as good a pairing as Paes/Bhupathi were at one point.

    It’s a shame Sania Mirza has just not lived up to the hype.

  19. “The NRP, just like the NRI, tends to be more broad-minded.”

    O, please…RPs and RIs are just as horny as everyone else.

  20. “Nope, other way around”

    Wow, I was about to investigate myself but then thought: “what the hell are the odds that the guy leaving this statement is so stupid that he didn’t bother checking their identites beforehand.”

  21. Aisam along with Kveta Peschke made it to the semi-fnials of the mixed dubles as well. If Leander Paes and Cara Black win their quarter-finals later today then they would meet Aisam and Kveta.

  24. Also, your threads are always the best moderated.

    followed in short order by…

    … however much HinJews now might want to argue otherwise

    LOL.

  25. You know what would be meaningful: Aisam falls in love with Rohan and they choose to get married and adopt a Chinese kid. Boom, all the prejudices and hatred in South Asia would have been tested. And, who don’t want to see too tall, hunky, uber-masculine South Asian men marrying each other?

  26. Actually! How about a Bollywood flick based on professional tennis love triangle?? A female lead, based loosely on Sania Mirza, has to choose between Indian and Pakistani best friends and doubles partners. Anyone want to help me write the script? Musical dance numbers can be shot at Wimbledon as well as the courts at Roland-Garros.

  27. I think it would be more interesting if she had to choose between someone who shared her love of tennis and someone who shared some other, less emphasized aspect of her persona. Flip a coin about the nationality combinatorics, it doesn’t actually matter. I also like it when love triangles end with the apex walking away from the false dichotomy.

    I thought the badminton part of Dhoom Tanaa in Om Shanti Om was pretty cute.

    I like watching tennis, but can never wrap my head around the scoring jargon. I’m still waiting for the great desi basketball players.

  28. Out of curiosity, is this a story about religious unity, or ethinicity? Hindu’s and Muslim’s compete together in different sports, all the time. It’s not news at all. Or is this a story about indian-american and pakistani-americans cheering for the same team? Most of our parents where born before partition.

    The story may make you warm and fuzzy, but I’m sorry, but the story strikes at the heart of everything that Pakistan stands for.

    • Sanjay, this is a story about SPORTS. The next comment you leave about geopolitics will result in all your comments being deleted and you being banned from this site. Thanks.

  29. I think it is wrong to use a derogatory word to describe Hindus first of all, and second of all it is wrong to assume that it is the Hindus or Indians who are arguing otherwise about roots. (Surely Hinjew is a racist insult to types of people in one – shouldn’t the moderators be looking at this??) I think you will find that both sides have plenty of arguments both ways.

    In order for there to be peace there must be a demonstrable commitment to the idea. Pakistan is no angel in that regard and would need to do alot to prove its commitment to becoming an ally to India. But if it did so, and China too, I think there could be great potential there.

  30. “The story may make you warm and fuzzy, but I’m sorry, but the story strikes at the heart of everything that Pakistan stands for.”

    Erm that is an incredible leap of logic and no it doesn’t at all.

    Admittedly its a complex story but cooperation with India is not and should not be antithetical to Pakistan in the slightest.

    In fact our natural links are across the border to India, Iran, Afghanistan and China. Its in Pak’s national interest to build on these friendships and tennis duo is a great step forward. Perhaps the Afghans can teach us Qizilbash, the Iranians football and the Chinese gymnastics then we’re sorted 😛

  31. Zach

    Toleration rather than cooperation, as pointed out we are the same people with different religions. The idea of separating the two and the cooperate sounds as euphemistic as Separate but Equal. IMO Qureshi is acting as a true secular, which has gotten him into trouble with the Pakistani Tennis Association previously when teamed up with a Israeli player.

  32. “Toleration rather than cooperation, as pointed out we are the same people with different religions. The idea of separating the two and the cooperate sounds as euphemistic as Separate but Equal. IMO Qureshi is acting as a true secular, which has gotten him into trouble with the Pakistani Tennis Association previously when teamed up with a Israeli player.”

    Did not cooperation with our neighbors meant that we had to become them; is national sovereignty meaningless or are we supposed to resurrect a debate put to rest half a century ago?

    Two players are cooperating across the border, despite rising national tensions; they’re doing well and let’s collectively hope they move on to the Semis.

    How about we leave it at that?

  33. “Anyone want to help me write the script? ” Me, me, me! *frantically waves hand in air

  35. Aisam along with Kveta Peschke made it to the finals of the mixed doubles beating Anna Groenefeld/Mark Knowles 7-6, 7-6!

  36. @ (selective)Brotherhood – I first heard the term “HinJew” in popular context when Russel Peters performed at my University in Chicago, and used it in the context of a joke about mixing cultures. Neha using it is the first time I’ve ever seen it being used a pejorative, so it is not very prevalent. It’s a sports thread and lets just talk about tennis, where are the old timers talking about the Krishnans of Tennis and Khans of Squash winning on an international level.

  37. i thought i saw Modi in the stands rooting for Moodie. He still can’t get a visa but i hear he snuck in thru the Az boarder dressed as wendy doniger.

  38. Rahul,

    I’ve seen “hinjew’ used as a slur before, so I wouldn’t say it’s particularly uncomman.. It’s funny that Neha’s comment started out by praising Abhi’s moderation skills before her own completely off topic, potentially derailing comment about ‘hinjews’. . But as her comment was not moderated, I guess it’s clear that discussions or use of the term are not considered off topic.

  39. Anyway, back to tennis – who remembers Vijay Amritraj – he also starred in a Bond film with Roger Moore!

  40. Guys just a quick note. One of the reasons I even dared to come back and start posting again after a prolonged hiatus is the possible hope that every #$%**&% conversation would not degenerate into a Hindu-Muslim/Indian-Pakistan/Islam vs the world conversation.

    I quote from a previous post of mine (how egotistical indeed) After all this time and so many references, it is high-samay to devise a SM-specific Godwin. As an SM discussion grows longer, the probability of any discussion turning into one about Pakistan or Islam approaches 1. The rate at which this may happen can be affected by: 1. The Blogger’s ancestry or religious affiliation 2. The appearance of any South Asian-ness – Most often associated with a perceived lack of pride in their “Indian-ness” 3. Appearance of the name “Modi” or “Godhra” – Nostalgic expressions like “Ramjanmabhoomi”, “Babri Masjid” or “Ayodhya” are like an adrenaline shot to Mrs. Mia Wallace’s heart 4. Bengali names. All Bongs are Marxist. 5. (Only to popularize a sexy new term I’ve recently encountered , and 5 being a nice number) Westphobia. [ref: http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006308.html#comment-277997%5D

    ===========

    Please let the freaking faux pas pass and go the way of the dodo; say it loud and proud if you’re a HinJew…think of it as Third Wave Hinduism!

    That Ramanathan Krishnan he was one posh and crisp chap.

  41. Actually, Vijay Amritraj was also in Star Trek 4 as a starship captain!

    I think the issue people are having with the Hinjew slur is the manner in which it was used – it came across as a somewhat derogatory usage of the term. And the insinuation that it is somehow hindus/ indians who are the only ones who are at fault is ridiculous as we all know. My feeling is that that is what is bugging people.

  43. LOL @ Rahul “As an SM discussion grows longer, the probability of any discussion turning into one about Pakistan or Islam approaches 1.”

    I actually laughed out loud in the office.

  44. Another interesting thing about famous Indian tennis players is that there have been Hindus, Muslims and Christians/ Catholics amongst them. Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj etc. Also, the cricket team has always been mixed, even having a Muslim captain at one stage for 10 years straight (Azharuddin) in recent history. Points of pride for India and peace and harmony in general.

  45. Rohan and Aisam beat the Argentines E.Schwank/H.Zeballos 7-6, 6-4 to enter the finals, where they will take on the Bryan brothers.

  46. Aisam and Rohan truly deserve kudos for making the doubles final at the U.S. Open. Their styles really complement each other. And although I think the American media is overdoing the “ambassadors of peace” angle to some extent, but in a nice way, I’m glad to see the two be level-headed in their comments and replies. They are well-spoken ambassadors at any rate. Would be great if they could defeat the Bryan twins.

    Now, the only thing they have to work on is that chest bump of theirs! Bit weak. Chest bumps are silly to begin with, but if you’re going to do it….. Not sure if Paes/Bhupathi invented it, but they had a lot more style and flair and strength to their chest bumps. The Bryan brothers have made it their signature, so Qureshi/Bopanna need to improve in that area.

  48. In the finals now- since they play the Bryan brothers, we’ll get to see the full match for sure (it had been a non American pair they were playing then no guarantee of coverage 🙂

    Rather interestingly they beat Bhupathi and partner (Mirnyi) en route

    It’s a shame that Paes and Bhupathi couldn’t continue to get along well enough to keep playing and winning- they were a great doubles team.

  49. Washington Post coverage.

    Some of the world’s best tennis players were in action Wednesday afternoon at the U.S. Open, including third-seeded Novak Djokovic and top Russian Vera Zvonareva. Yet no victors were more gratified than the little-known doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who not only earned a spot in the finals of their first Grand Slam event as a duo but also were cheered on by their countries’ ambassadors to the United Nations.

    From: At 2010 U.S. Open, Indo-Pak Express gives India, Pakistan cause to cheer together

  50. There was no stopping the ‘Indo-Pak Express’ as Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi inched closer to their maiden Grand Slam title together by advancing to the US Open finals here przeprowadzki warszawa The Indo-Pak duo was cheered on from the stands by, among others, the United Nations ambassadors from their respective countries. Very good news in this post.