Khunnah remembered as ITF Juniors to open
TENNIS Cambodia will organise the season-ending ITF Grade 5 Junior Tennis Tournament at the National Training Center from the week commencing December 4 after qualifiers during the weekend.
Like last year, the Juniors has been dedicated to the memory of Cambodia’s tennis legend during the 1960s, late Tep Khunnah, marking the tournament’s uninterrupted run for the last 22 years.
“It is highly emotional for me personally and my family in particular that we celebrate his lasting legacy every passing year and remember the golden era of tennis he presided over,” said Tennis Cambodia’s Secretary-General Tep Rithivit in his tribute to his father as he looked at his own son Tep Timothy’s participation in the event as a third-generation blessing.
A beaten finalist in a varsity tournament in neighbouring Thailand earlier this month, Timothy will lead the Kingdom’s quest for first ranking points along with seven others – Khleang Punlok, Leng Sarinreach, ChheangVannasith, Leap Sovannary, Yi Kimhoy and lone rep from Siem Reap Sear Van. For Ith Bunthea it will be his first shot at the ITF Juniors.
In the women’s event, Hour Sreypov and Ho Sreynoch will be the only two competing from Cambodia. All the 10 local players will be playing in the qualifying rounds,
Cambodia has been hailed as a popular destination in the region with patronage from players and parents growing stead- ily since the Kingdom first hosted a similar event in November last year.
As many as 120 players from 18 countries, the most since last year, will be vying for honours. Travelling players have been drawn from Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau,Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, China, Laos, Hong Kong, Russia, Poland and the US.
The Cambodian Country Club which adjoins the National Training Center is the first official hotel. The second official hotel is TamaHome Serviced Apartments, neighbour of the Cambodian Country Club and the National Training Center Courts, and Top One, the official ball of the tournament, which is from Thailand, and last but not least, Tennis Cambodia, the organisers of the event.