China players win three out of four titles in Labuan Open Wheelchair Tennis Tour
LABUAN:China’s wheelchair team dominated the 2nd Labuan Open International Tennis Federation (ITF) UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour 2019, winning the men’s singles, women’s singles and women’s doubles crowns.
Fifty of the world’s top wheelchair tennis players from seven countries - Malaysia, China, Iraq, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Australia - took part in the March 10-12 tournament.
The men and women’s singles finals were all-China affairs. Chao Du won the men’s title beating Dong Shun Jiang while Zhu Zhenzhen took the women’s singles crown after downing Huang Hui Min.
Zhenzhen and Hui Min then combined to beat the ChinaThailand partnership of Wang Ziying-Wanitha Inthanin in the women’s doubles final.
Sri Lankans DSR DharmasenaRALS Ranaweera retained the men’s doubles title after defeating Malaysians Abu Samah BorhanMohd Yusshazwan.
Wheelchair Tennis Malaysia (WTM) president Iqbal Sulaiman said he was glad to see seven countries, two more than last year, competing in the tournament this year, adding that Labuan would again be the host next year.
Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli, who presented the prizes and certificates to the players, said sports facilities would be improved with funding from the Federal Territories Ministry, Labuan Corporation, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Youth and Sports Department.
He added that since the tournament was fast gaining popularity, Labuan should consider turning the town intoa wheelchairaccessible tourist attraction or a wheelchair-friendly island. Bernama