Six teams served up for the National Games
TENNIS Cambodia has framed five events for the six participating teams in the 2nd National Games tennis event at the Olympic Stadium courts from May 24-28.
Aside from an Army team, the other five competing provinces are to be Phnom Penh, Kandal, Siem Reap, Kep and Koh Kong. The five categories to be competed in are the men’s team, singles and dou- bles, and the women’s singles and mixed doubles.
The format adopted for this year’s edition differs from that of the inaugural Games two years ago in that only one player and one doubles pair from each province will be allowed to take part in an event.
While the new restriction raises competitive standards as every province will pick their best in all events, it could also keep out some other prominent contenders.
Returning as last year’s national champion, Davis Cup team member Long Samneang, representing the Army, will go out as the favourite to take the singles title.
F e l l o w Dav i s Cu p p e r s Phalkun Mam and Our Sarith will represent Phnom Penh and Koh Kong, respectively.
French-Cambodian Jonathan Mey carries Siem Reap’s aspirations in the singles, and Kandal will have pitched in the young Sam Davith.
One of the participants in the WTA Future Stars event in Singapore a couple of years back, Ho Sreynoch who leads the Koh Kong team, will be one of the stronger challengers for the women’s singles title.
T he w i n ner of t wo open div ision tournaments, first at Sof itel a nd t hen at t he CCC Spring Event, Srey noch wil l also partner Our Sarith in the mixed doubles event, which i s ex pected to at t r ac t f i ve pairings in a l l.