China make clean sweep of both singles, women's doubles titles
KOTA KINABALU: China came away with a clean sweep of both the men’s and women’s singles and women’s doubles titles at the ITF Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Future Serie, hosted by Sabahs at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas from March 6-8.
A total of 26 globally ranked players from seven countries including Australia, Sri Lanka, India, China, Thailand, Iraq and Malaysia battled it out on the court for the top spot and well deserved global ITF ranking points.
Second seed Huang Hui Min was able to overcome her compatriot and doubles partner, top seed Zhu Zhenzhen in a hard-fought final to claim the women's title. The pair also went on to win the women's doubles title.
In the men's singles, Dong Shunjiang beat Zhenxu Ji to be crowned King of the Court in Sabah.
Sri Lankan players D.S.R Dharmasena and R.A.L.S Ranaweera took first place in the men's doubles, continuing on with their good form after Sri Lanka won first place in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Qualifications held in Kuala Lumpur last week.
“We are very proud to be hosting such a globally prestigious event for Wheelchair Tennis in Sabah for the first time,” said Sabah Tennis Association president, Jonathan Koh.
Aside from Malaysia's globally ranked players, Mohamad Yusshazwan bin Yusuf and Abu Shamah Borhan, #61 and #63 respectively, they played alongside the world #38 ranked player D.S.R Dharmasena from Sri Lanka and world #30 Suthai Khlongrua of Thailand.
The players will continue on to Labuan for the final ITF Futures Wheelchair Tennis tournament held in East Malaysia, from today until Tuesday at Kolej Matrikulasi Labuan.
“The Malaysian contingent were strong but unable to make it to the finals here in Sabah. However, we are dreaming big and putting in the hard work and look forward to bringing out our best again in Labuan later this week,” stated Muhd Iqbal Sulaiman, president of Wheelchair Tennis Malaysia.
“BounxSport is proud to support the ITF Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Future Series in Malaysia and is working hard to bring energy and inspiration with our On-Fire and King of the Court gamification elements,” said Julian R. Ellison, Founder and CEO of BounxSport.
The ITF Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Future series in Sabah is supported by Majlis Sukan Negara, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Paralympic Council Malaysia, Tennis Malaysia and Lembaga Sukan Negri Sabah.
Local sponsors include, Bounx Sport, Dunlop, 100 Plus and Moolabar and Sabah Tourism.