By Moin Salahuddin

Special to Pakistan Link

Note: This is the second part in a series of articles on Pakistani National Tennis Team member and former UCLA tennis sensation Hassan Akmal.

The roar of the crowd was deafening. The applause lasted for several minutes.

Was it a grand slam victory celebration for Pakistani tennis star Hassan Akmal? No, at least not yet.

The 25-year old Akmal had just graduated on June 17th from within UC-Los Angeles’ arena, Pauley Pavilion. The accomplishment - not a tennis title - but instead two degrees from UCLA in biochemistry and history with a minor in Arabic and Islamics. The audience - not tennis fans - but rather family.

Cheering loudly for Akmal was his widowed mother and chemist, Imtiaz; 28-year old millionaire-to-be brother Shiraz; and his sister Sara. A director of technology and lead programmer for the third-largest video game distributor in the world (THQ), Shiraz is the eldest child. Sara, a 23-year old who completed a psychology and biology double major at UC-San Diego, is the youngest child.

A successful and loving family in their own right, but alas one piece was missing.

“A warm tear slowly fell down my cheek as the respirator was lifted from the lifeless body,” Akmal said. “The man’s struggle was finally over. That man, my father was well on his way towards the heavens above, leaving me behind to confront the world alone. I was only eleven years of age. I still remember myself helplessly staring at my father just minutes before the little life left within him quickly diminished…

Muhammad, the childrens’ father and Imtiaz’s husband, passed away when Hassan was only 11 years old.

“I have lived a life very different from many,” Akmal said. “My family learned the true definition of struggle. I had a very dramatic childhood and was forced to mature at a very young age.”

This maturation allowed Akmal to reach the upper echelons in both academia and tennis.

“Through these experiences I became very independent and supported my family. By helping my borther Shiraz form his very own computer software company Micronics (MCX) and publish a video game while still in junior high, we were able to raise our family’s declining financial status after my father passed away. I learned the true value of money and became closer to what life was all about. Not the superficial materials, not the surface of everything, but the little homeless boy sitting on the side of a road begging for money as he sells flowers. He hasn’t seen the world, and is content with what he has, and it being so little. We can learn a lot from people like him and many times the world is ignorant of such things. I have become a very deep, poetic, philosophical, and pious person as a result. Now I think about the refugees all over the world and what I can do to help the orphans. I feel that I am confident in myself and that helps my family push our dreams and aspirations further. Not only can I help myself win my struggle as an individual, but those around me.”

Along with earning two degrees from UCLA this summer, Akmal is finishing up a research project with the UCLA School of Public Health on “American-Pakistani’s, aculturalization, and public health.” Through this research, Akmal has considered beginning a master’s degree next Fall in public health from UCLA, one of the top ten schools in the country in this field.

But before his plans for a master’s degree or even medical school can be attempted next year, Akmal looks to play professional tennis in his year off.

“I’ll make my decision at the end of the year if I want to keep playing pro,” said Akmal, who was invited in February by the former PTV Director in Pakistan to join the Lollywood acting scene. “It will likely be a financial decision more than anything else. Allah has blessed me with a gift. I have never had a coach before and have taught myself everything growing up. Perhaps this is why my drive is so deep and powerful. I know I have the talent, but just not enough financial backing. After my summer in Pakistan and Europe, I was offered a one- year pro contract for $75,000. To be a pro and really establish yourself during your first few years, you need $250,000 before an agent will sign you and take care of you.”

In one of his first tastes of professional tennis, Akmal participated in the pre-qualifying tournament for the Mercedes-Benz Cup in Los Angeles. Akmal advanced to the quarterfinals before having to default due to a schedule conflict with two midterms exams and his match.

The “Super 9” tournament went through July 23rd, which allowed Akmal to practice with several ATP Tour professionals, such as his good friend and 1996 Olympic bronze medallist for India Leander Paes.

“You are a product of your experiences and this is a great opportunity. I am looking forward to training with guys at my level or better. It is something imperative to my success as a player. Many Muslims are coming to watch and support me so I am also interested in being a role model. My fans also have a lot to offer me. I can learn a lot from them as well. Everybody is special in his own way. People can grow together, interact, and view the world from the eyes of each other. Seeing the world from all these different faces of the diamond can be very beautiful. The beauty is not just reflected from each face of the diamond-which represents each individual, but the understanding we develop in our hearts is the light glowing from within...

Twenty-five year old Hassan Akmal has been through more in his short existence on Earth than most of us will ever go through in our entire lives. In the following diary, we get a glimpse into Akmal that people normally would never see. Akmal talks about his late father, important lessons he has learned, his tennis career, and Islam.

“In order to enjoy the fruits of life, one must construct his paradise from the materials which surround his life. My family, my self-belief, and my heart were all I had in my possession. I challenged myself with everything life could provide. Excelling in academics, athletics, and leadership, have helped build my foundation for the future. I never let anything or anyone thwart my efforts to succeed, continuing to shield myself from the jealousy and criticism of others. The nights were warm once I strengthened the belief within myself. My heart had been healed forever. ‘Wherever I’d go, love would now follow,’ I told myself repeatedly. In this world of harshness and selfishness, one would think a man had nothing left to live for. My mother was without a job before becoming a chemist. Only a few of us in this world know the secret to a beautiful existence and how to overcome such tribulations. Allah only gives you as much as you can handle and I knew that that could not be sought which grows not in the heart. So I followed my heart. Many people live their lives in an enchantment of a magical spell. I say this in all sincerity. Just think of all the moments you cherish the most. I promise you that those moments were touched by the everlasting light we call love. Love was within my heart and within my family, keeping us together and bringing us closer. Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, once said that love was the foundation of our existence. It makes us stronger. Just think my friends, would not each moment of life be a blessing to everyone if they only knew that to love humanity was really to love oneself. Just think of all the people you know who would be happier if only they knew how to tap into this immense force that is already within them. As for me, I can think of countless, luckless beings that have not yet learned to drink from this mighty force. Incredible our hearts could be if only they were united. If people could have helped me as a child maybe I wouldn’t have had to struggle, but everything happens for a reason. Don’t you think our duty to humanity today may be to show them that knowing the way to love is really knowing the way to live? I have learned so much from each obstacle I have had to overcome. It is time for me to give back to society what it has graciously given me - Islam, the central driving force in my life right now… There are so many misconceptions about Islam that I want to try to clear as well when I am insha’Allah in the media. The world will insha’Allah see the truth, and with Islam, comes hope and direction.”

Akmal will play in several satellite tournaments in and around Southern California in the upcoming months before making his move to the international tennis scene in December.

“This next few months are critical for me,” Akmal said. “As much as I realize just how important my future is, I have realized that Allah only asks one to do their best. I have started training at the dune. This will be the first step toward reaching the paramount level of a champion. The new moon is here and all of its light is upon me. Instead of trying to unveil my destiny, I shall let destiny unveil itself!”

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