KUCHING: The dust Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre courts has yet to settle after the successful completion of the 21st Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1) yesterday.
But starting today, the centre will be a hive of activity again as it will be the venue for four back-to-back international events that will continue to keep the organisers busy until the end of the month.
They are the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for World Junior Team (Boys), the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for World Junior Team (Girls), the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for Junior Fed Cup from Mar 18-24 and the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for Junior Davis Cup from Mar 24-29.
Organising chairman Dato Patrick Liew disclosed yesterday 31 teams will be competing in the four events and the top eight teams will play in the Final Qualifying also at SLTA from Apr 8-23.
“From the Final Qualifying, the top two teams will advance to the World Finals in the Czech Republic in August,” said Liew.
“We will be receiving financial support of US$1,400 per team from International Tennis Federation (ITF) to organise the competitions,” the SLTA president elaborated.
He added that the ITF representative for the events is Suresh Menon from Malaysia while the ITF referee is Hany El-Khafiet from Dubai, UAE.
The teams for the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for Junior Fed Cup are Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan while those competing in the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for Junior Davis Cup are Bangladesh, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen.
Meanwhile, the countries fighting for the spots in the Final Qualifying for World Junior Team (Boys) are Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and Yemen. Teams vying for the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying for World Junior Team (Girls) are Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. Each team for the team events will consist of two singles and one doubles. It should comprise two players and a non-playing captain. The opening ceremony is at 8:30am today while the welcoming and fellowship dinner will be held on Mar 21 at Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites.