ATF Asian 14 and Under attracts 71 players

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Liew (second left), SLTA deputy president Douglas Telajan (left), secretary Bernard Chin (second right) and treasurer Kho Siak Koi showing the information sheets of the 13th ATF Asian 14 & Under Series at SLTA tennis centre yesterday.

KUCHING: The 13th ATF Asian 14 & Under Series has attracted 71 players including 29 girls from 15 countries in the popular tournament in the Asia region to be held at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Centre (SLTA) from Sept 5 to 9.

Participating countries are Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United States of America.

“This tournament is becoming very popular in Asian countries as it prepares players who are under 14 years old for the ITF Junior Circuit.

“The good thing about this tournament is that those in the main draw will get to play five matches and the winner will get 200 points,” SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew told reporters in a press conference at SLTA conference room yesterday.

According to him, Malaysia (Kuching) was the first country in Asia to organise this type of competition 13 years ago.

“Now we are seeing many countries organising this tournament and in Malaysia alone there are six such tournaments being organised.

“We also encourage trainees in our junior development programme to join this exciting tournament and we are hoping for the haze condition to improve,” added Liew.

Sarawakian juniors in the boys main draw are Tan Lin En, Raidon Tan Xue Long while Ayden Shah Deen Hesham, Ethan Kho Tan Zhi Han and Jared Ho are registered for the qualifying rounds from Sept 3 to 4.

Sarawakians in the girls main draw are Tan Xin Hung, Soo Hui Yii, Lydia Liong Tng Eng, Brittany Michael Tiang Jing Yu, Audrea Flennysha Jackie, Ainasyahira Siau Empie, Shlle Joseph and Ella Robert.

There is no qualifying round for the girls as the number of participants is less than 32.