Romania-bound Low with (from right) coach Stevie Din, SLTA chief Liew and Sukma XVIII tennis coordinator and state development programme Deen Hesham Tan Abdullah.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association has sent another potential medallist for an overseas stint in the medal chase for Sukma XVIII tennis competition that will be hosted by Sarawak from July 22-31.
The player is Low Zhe Han and he will join two other players Alvin Teng Wee Jie and Rohaizat Achop Borhan Janang for a three-month training stint in Romania under coach Doru Morariu.
For the record, Morariu has coached Sukma XVII gold medallists Mohd Assri Merzuki, Ariez Elyaas Deen Hesham and Aslina Chua.
“Low was initially selected to go for the overseas training stint with Alvin and Rohaizat but turned down the offer. However, after talking to him and his parents, he changed his mind and decided to go this time,” said SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew.
Low, who has played in ITF junior tournaments, is now playing in junior tournaments in Germany together with Alvin, Rohaizat and Morariu and they will proceed to Romania for more intensive training.
Liew said Romania was chosen as it possessed top tennis facilities and it was well located in Europe where the Sarawak players can conveniently travel and compete in junior tournaments in the European countries.
“We are trying out the players format and strategies to see which player is more suitable for what event and compatible as partner for doubles events,” said Liew, adding that all the players, who are either studying or training overseas, will return to the state for centralised training on July 14.
“They include Aslina Chua from the US and new discovery 15-year-old Issac Lau from Australia, Low, Alvin and Rohaizat from Romania. “Although we have set a two-gold medal target, we are expecting to spring a surprise or two in this Sukma,” Liew added.