World’s top junior players expected in Kuching

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TOP JUNIOR: File photo shows Nikola Milojevic (left) holding the championship trophy after defeating Kim Jae Hwan of South Korea 6-1, 6-4 in Chief Minister’s Cup boys singles final at SLTA’s centre court on March 18 last year.

TOP JUNIOR: File photo shows Nikola Milojevic (left) holding the championship trophy after defeating Kim Jae Hwan of South Korea 6-1, 6-4 in Chief Minister’s Cup boys singles final at SLTA’s centre court on March 18 last year.

Dato Patrick Liew

Dato Patrick Liew

KUCHING: The 21st Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1) is expected to be highly competitive with the world’s top junior players coming here for the event at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre from March 12 to 17.

Organising chairman Dato Patrick Liew said the prestigious event has attracted ITF No. 2 Nikola Milojevic from Serbia and No. 6 Borna Coric from Croatia for the boys competition.

“We have ITF No. 7 Hsu Ching-Wen of Chinese Taipei and No. 36 Ipek Soylu of Turkey as the top two contestants in the girls competition,” added Liew yesterday in a press conference.

According to the SLTA president, there were 107 entries for the boys competition and 100 entries for the girls from 44 countries as on yesterday.

They included Australia, Belgium, China, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

“We are expecting some late withdrawals due to one reason or another but we are ready to host this prestigious event again,” he said.

Liew said in the Asia-Oceania region, only three countries host the competition, namely Thailand, Malaysia (Kuching) and the Philippines.

“We also feel honoured to host this event for the 21st time and this is a very well known tournament in the world and we have many who have previously played here and gone on to become professional players and playing in the Grand Slams,” he added.

Liew is hoping for good weather to ensure that the competition would be able to keep to its schedule.

“In conjunction with the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup, we will also be hosting a dinner to welcome the players and their coaches and celebrate SLTA’s 50th anniversary. The Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has also consented to grace the occasion,” Liew disclosed.

After the 21st Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1), SLTA will be hosting four back-to back competitions from Mar 18-29.

They are the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup By PNB Paribas World Junior Tennis Boys/Girls Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifying.

“Thirty-five teams have confirmed participation in the four events and ITF will give us a grant of US$150,000 to organise them,” said Liew.

He said the top two teams will play in the Final Qualifier of the four events also in Kuching from April 8-21.

Other events to be hosted by SLTA next month are the MSSM Tennis Championships and the national level EPF Tennis Championships.