UNITY THROUGH SPORTS: Players and coaches from China, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong singing the song ‘Pengyu’ to signify their friendship.
KUCHING: Rivalry took a backseat as players and coaches participating in the Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying for ITF World Junior Tennis Competition got together for a fellowship dinner last Saturday night at the SLTA tennis centre here.
They were singing and dancing, as teams took turns to perform songs selected from karaoke set for entertainment.
The highlight of the night was when teams from China, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong grouped together to sing a Mandarin song ‘Pengyu’ (Friends) to signify the friendship built between them through this competition.
Also performing were the teams from Kazakhstan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
They were served with an array of local delicacies including the state’s signature dish ‘Midin Salad’.
The dinner marked the end of the boy’s category, which saw South Korea, finishing first, Japan second, Chinese Taipei third and Australia fourth.
There were 16 teams in the boy’s category including hosts Malaysia who finished 15th.
The girl’s category will commence today (May 7) involving 18 teams. Top four teams from the boys and girls will represent Asia/Oceania to the World Finals in the Czech Republic this August.
This year is also the fourth time the Final Qualifying round being hosted by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA), and the dinner took place at its Clubhouse.
The dinner started off with a special performance by a lion dance troupe to ‘bless’ the tennis courts. Also present that night were International Tennis Federation (ITF) representatives Ajay Pantak and Suresh Menon, and SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew.