By Daniel Etchells

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi has aided four countries through his foundation, Stop War Start Tennis, this year ©Getty ImagesPakistani tennis player Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi has sent five tennis wheelchairs to Cambodia in support of the Killing Fields To Tennis Courts Foundation.

Cambodia is the latest country this year that Qureshi has aided through his own foundation, Stop War Start Tennis, after Sri Lanka, Iraq and Pakistan.

The 34-year-old works in conjunction with Motivation, a UK-based non-profit company that supports people with mobility disabilities around the world, to supply the wheelchairs.

The Killing Fields is the name that the foreign press gave to the rural areas around Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge, the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, tortured and executed 2.1 million civilians between 1975 and 1979. 

Killing Fields To Tennis Courts aims to place tennis courts in areas that have been de-mined, to allow children and adults to play in areas which they used to fear.

The foundation also provides tennis-specific wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs for amputees, along with training and equipment.

Global ambassador Leander Paes, India's best-known tennis player who has won eight doubles and six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, approached Qureshi and explained the situation in Cambodia.

Thanks to Paes, Cambodia's tennis initiative for disabled tennis received the 2014 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ACES For Charity award.

A recent image shows a child looking at the site of mass graves for victims of the Khmer Rouge at the infamous Choeung Ek killing fields ©Getty ImagesA recent image shows a child looking at the site of mass graves for victims of the Khmer Rouge at the infamous Choeung Ek killing fields ©Getty Images



"What they are doing in Cambodia for disabled youth and adult tennis is really inspiring," said Qureshi, who has won 10 ATP World Tour doubles titles during his career.

"I sincerely appreciate the ATP for all their support for Stop War Start Tennis and to Leander for bringing this wonderful programme to my attention."

Clare Childs, sports range manager for Motivation, added: "Motivation is thrilled to be supporting Aisam and the Stop War Start Tennis organisation, by providing affordable sports wheelchairs. 

"There are many obstacles facing would-be athletes across the world, but if you need an appropriate wheelchair in order to get onto the court, and into the game, sport can be even further out of reach.

"And if you're also living in a country hit by conflict, then you're very likely to be side-lined.

"We know sport has positive effects way beyond just feeling physically fit.

"That's why Motivation is committed to supporting Aisam and Stop War Start Tennis, so that even more people can feel the benefits that sport can bring."

Qureshi is scheduled to visit Cambodia next month to lead a wheelchair clinic weekend and give the keynote address at a fundraising event. 

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