Liew (second left) with (from left) SLTA deputy president Douglas Telajan, secretary Bernard Chin and treasurer Kho Siak Koi pose after the press conference.
KUCHING: Sarawak remains a preferred destination for the world’s junior tennis players aged between 13 and 18 in search of vital ranking points to propel them into higher level competitions of the International Tennis Federation.
This can be seen by the large number of players taking part in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ITF Junior Circuit organsed by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) twice yearly.
The competitions are the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade One) in March and the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (II) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade Three) in October.
“We have been organising the two events since 2001 and in this 32nd Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (II) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade Three) tournament from Oct 16 to 21, we have received entries from 26 countries comprising 100 boys and 86 girls,” said SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew Chin Joon at a press conference at SLTA Tennis Centre yesterday.
The countries are Australia (15 players), China (9), Denmark (5), France (2), Germany (1), Great Britain (2), Hong Kong (6), India (20), Indonesia (4), Japan (11), Kazakhstan (2), South Korea (5), Malaysia (33), New Zealand (1), Philippines (1), Poland (3), Russia (2), Singapore (4), Sweden (7), Switzerland (1), Chinese Taipei (39), Thailand (4), Ukraine (1), United States (4), Vietnam (1) and Zimbabwe (1).
Among the players to look out for are ITF No. 106 girls junior Nugroho Priska Madelyn from Indonesia (top seed), ITF No. 111 boys junior Eric Vaneshelboim from Ukraine and ITF No. 176 Christian Didier Chin from Sabah (top two seeds).
“The level of our Grade Three competition is always higher than those held in other Asian countries because we have higher ranked players competing,” added Liew.
He said SLTA are expecting over 200 players and officials as well as parents in the event which will help promote sports tourism in the state.
The qualifying rounds for both the boys and girls will be held on Oct 14 and 15 while the main draw will be played from Oct 16-21.
Other Malaysians in the boys main draw are Darrshan Suresh, Takeshi Koey Jian Keong while the girls in the main draw are Sara Nayar and Elsa Wan.
Malaysian boys involved in the qualifying round include Christian Andre Liew, Chan Soon Keat, Seleem Salleh, Tan Lin En from Kuching and Jimmy Liong Kai Long from Bintulu while Malaysian girls in the qualifying round are Tan Lin Xin and Tan Xin Hung from Kuching, Suhana Sofia Mohd Adam Das, Lim Zan Ning, Hannah Yip Seen Ean, Nil Farah Fahrol Rodzi, Chloe Chong Zhi Jing, Chan Li Ying, Dania Melati Fahrol Rodzi, Soo Hui Jen, Tan Jia En and Soo Hui Yii.