Tawau tennis club aims to produce top players
TAWAU: Kelab Tenis Remaja Tawau (Tawau Teenage Tennis Club, or KTRT) was off icially launched in Tawau to promote and develop tennis at the district level aimed at producing tennis athletes to compete in competitions at the district, state or international level.
Its club president T.S. Karunagaren said tennis is a beautiful game that could improve sel f- discipline and knowledge, aside from promoting standard skills and sports values among players of various races and religions.
“While the players might be enemies in the tennis court, but outside the court they are friends and have fun chatting together,” Karunagaren said.
However, he stressed that the club needs support from players’ parents so they can move up to the highest level in producing more tennis athletes to compete in tennis at all levels, including at the Sukma and SEA Games.
Meanwhile, Tawau Youth and Sports Department officer Mohamad Fadil bin Sulaiman also congratulated the newly launched club and said he hoped tennis could be become one of the more popular Asian sports in the next 10 to 20 years just like badminton.
Fadil believed that KTRT would be able to develop tennis to the highest level in Tawau and in Sabah and assured that the Youth and Sports Department wil l continue to support the club’s efforts.
Tham, a father to an 11year-old player, told reporters here that his daughter had improved a lot after the three months’ training conducted by the club coach, whom he praised as a professional who ut i lised professional tennis equipment throughout his lessons.
The KTRT is a tennis club registered in col laborat ion with the district and state Sports and Youth Office. It was officially opened on March 14 but launching of its activities only started in July due to the lack of a professional coach.
The club aims to organise tennis-related sports activities among its members besides promoting and developing tennis at the district level. Club activities include tennis cl inics, group lessons and individual lessons.
The club coach is Ryan Mauleon Guasis from the Philippines who is a certified tennis instructor with vast tennis knowledge, skills and experience having coached in the Philippines, Sabah and Hong Kong. He is well-versed in English and has experience coaching el ite players in Manila.
He is great with children of al l ages, ski l ls or levels and possesses the tennis skills and knowledge to provide adult members a great hitting lesson or help improve their strokes.
Currently, the club’s achievements comprise Keagan Keith Jonathan, 11, who is ranked fourth for Sabah boys Under 12, Ahmad Izzudin Sapri, 16, ranked f ifth for boys U16 and Muhd Aizuddin Aqiffitri, 16, who qualified for the Sabah Masters 2017 for Boys U16 category.
KTRT membership is open to those from aged five to 18 years. For further inquiries, contact Dr Pauline Vairappan at 019853 7616 or Gloria Ngu at 014373 1134.