MJTA juniors rake in 10 medals
KOTA KINABALU: Youngsters from the Manoharan Junior Tennis Academy (MJTA) raked in another haul of 10 medals at the Sutera Harbour Junior Age Group Tournament which is leg three of the Sabah Junior Tennis Tour 2018.
The tournament ended over the weekend in Kota Kinabalu.
“Overall our players played up to expectations but there is still much room for improvement,” said MJTA Chef De Mission Taren Sunil Manoharan.
“We are indeed very happy to note that many juniors from the other districts have vastly improved and that is a very good sign for the progress of the game here in Sabah. That is why we have suggested that the state coach be sent to different districts more often to conduct lessons for them,” he added.
For the MJTA team, it was Jonathan Joshua Sunil Manoharan’s turn to shine this time. He took home two gold medals by winning both the singles and doubles titles (partnering Mohd Radhie Bin Mohd Nor of KK) in the Boys Under-12 category.
Elder brother Harish John Sunil Manoharan won the gold medal in the Under-16 singles event and, playing in the older age group, emerged runner-up with his partner Luke Guansing in the Under-18 doubles.
Sharvineswaran a/l Uigneswaran won a silver in the Boys Under-12 doubles partnering Muhd Rasydan Zafran Bin Mohd Rasyid of Keningau. He also won a bronze in the singles.
Johnaton Chan was a bronze medallist in the Under-18 doubles, partnering Kevalraj Singh Kreer of Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile MJTA’s girls also chalked up respectable results with Maegan Allision Tan clinching a silver medal in the Under-14 singles. Grace Chan won a silver in the Under-12 doubles with her partner Miza Rasyidah Zakirah (Keningau) plus a bronze in the singles of the Under-10 category.
Taren Sunil also pointed out that the most important thing was that the MJTA players enjoyed competing in tournaments and that they are still hungry for more.
“The next major tournament in Sabah would be the Sabah Junior Masters and we will certainly not miss it. We might also pick one or two junior tournaments coming up in Peninsular Malaysia but we have to take into consideration the school examinations and other commitments of our juniors,” he said.
Meanwhile Harish has been selected to play for the Sabah Team at the coming SUKMA XIX to be held in Perak next month.