Ex-Tennis Star Goes Broke And Now Sells Trophies To Survive

While everyone loves a good Grass To Grace story, the reverse usually leaves a sour taste in the mouth and a question of ‘What went wrong’ in the heart.

Former Pakistan tennis player, Gul Hamid has fallen upon tough times and is now selling his trophies in order to survive and feed his family.

What went wrong?

The 68-year-old who has been playing tennis for the last 50 years told Geo News, “I took my cups to sell to Arif Sahib, at Pakistan Sports Board, as I had no choice.”

Hamid who is Jobless and resources-less since over a decade is said to be living with his second wife in a remote village near Wah Cantt. His first wife and children live in Karachi, and he has to feed them too.

“I prefer death over insults at the hands of a landlord who knocks at my door asking for rent, which I have been managing through thick and thin until now,” he says.

Gul also revealed that Bhopatti, whose son Mahesh Bhopatti is currently an international tennis has asked him to travel to India and train tennis players there.

“I thanked Bhopatti for the offer and told him I need to train our children in Pakistan,” he says.

He also added that he had requested the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan to fix a reasonable monthly stipend for him or give him at least some low-grade job like a groundsman.

“I am 68 now, and it’s probably the time for me and my wife to sit on Mussala (praying mat) and not running around for a living,” he adds.

Hamid’s trophies include an ITF hat-trick from 2008 to 2010, the 1986 Oman Open and three gold medals for Pakistan Navy, where he served as a Petty Officer.