Kuching set to host back to back tennis tournaments this month
KUCHING: Tennis fans in Kuching are in for a special treat as two world class tennis events are set to take place at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) centre beginning Oct 19 to 31.
PARTNERSHIP: SLTA President Patrick Liew (third from right) receives sponsorship from a representative of LEA Centre while committee members looks on.
Making the first serve is the 16th Sarawak Chief Minister Cup (II) ITF World Junior Tennis Championship 2010 (Group 3) starting on Oct 19 to 24 with participation from nearly 34 countries.
After the conclusion of the junior event, top women players will take over the courts commencing Oct 25 to 31 vying for the US$10,000 prize money in the ITFWomen’s Circuit 2010.
“Australia is expected to be the first batch to arrive here on Wednesday followed by the other participating countries in batches up till the qualifying rounds this coming Sunday,” said Patrick Liew, president of the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) after the handing over of sponsorships from Lea Sports Centre yesterday.
The main draw for this Under-18 competition according to Liew will start on Oct 19 where the order of play is limited to a total of 48 boys and 48 girls in the singles event.
He also said that 12 Malaysian boys and three girls will also be in the fray.
Top seed for the girls will be Uzbekistan’s Sabrina Sharipova who is ranked 74 in the ITF world junior rankings and a professional 402 rank in the WTA rankings.
The boy’s top seed currently is Vava Haadim from India who is ranked 246 in the ITF world junior rankings.
“We hope that with the completion of the added five courts in the near future,
SLTA will be able to accommodate more than 200 players,” said Liew adding further that it would simultaneously promote Sarawak as a sports tourism destination.
Currently SLTA is in the midst of preparing construction blueprints and costing. The added courts and hostels for players said Liew is instrumental to further strengthen and develop tennis in Sarawak.
“With the tennis village ready within two years, SLTA will then be prepared to house and organise tennis events for the Sukma in 2014 when Sarawak plays hosts,” said Liew.