SLTA on talent hunt

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Dato Patrick Liew

KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) is very serious in identifying potential players to be developed into future International Tennis Federation (ITF) players like Mohd Assri Merzuki and Ariez Alyass Deen Hesham.

Its president Dato Patrick Liew said he sees great potential in junior players like Kenneth Tan, Alvin Teng and Ricco Soh who can be developed into such players.

“After the Sarawak Inter-Division and Sarawak Closed Tennis Championships, we will be organising a centralised training and long-term development programme for a pool of elite players,” he said.

SLTA is also engaging a new coach, John Francis, from the Philippines who will report for duty by end of the month.

Bryan Leo Kintanar is presently the SLTA head coach while the other coach is Ariel Iogrono.

Francis and Iogrono are attached with the Kuching Division Lawn Tennis Association.

Liew was pleased to note the increasing number of junior players taking part in the Sarawak Inter-Division and Sarawak Closed Tennis Championships.

The Inter-Division title was won by Kuching A whose junior players included Gregory Tan, Kenneth Tan, Alvin Teng, Augustine Chang and Ricco Soh.

“Eighty per cent of the juniors in the back-to-back events are from Kuching and this is a good indication of a strong interest in tennis among the youngsters here.

We will be identifying and handpicking a few serious and committed players to prepare for the state’s challenge in the next Sukma in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur next year,” he said.

Liew said he would like to see more young players from other affiliates competing in Sarawak Inter-Division and Sarawak Closed Tennis Championships.

As such, he urged the affiliates to take a more pro-active approach in the development programmes to produce more young players.

SLTA’s affiliates are Kuching, PTBS, Samarahan, Betong, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.

“We would like to see the affiliates carry out development programmes and organise local tournaments on a more active and consistent basis,” Liew added.

He said by carrying out more tennis activities, it would justify the support from the state government.