Double delight as Aiman triumph in Miri

MIRI: It was double delight for state Sukma player Aiman Hamdan at the Sarawak Closed Tennis Championship and Sarawak Inter-Division held at Miri Tennis Complex here recently.

The Kuching player won the singles title, and paired with teammate Gilbert Yeo, a former Sukma player, to lift the doubles crown.

Johny Kho from Sibu won the veteran category.

Meanwhi le, Kuching were crowned champions in the interdivision/inter-team category.

Runner up were Bintulu, followed by Miri and Persatuan Tennis Bumiputera Sarawak ( PTBS) in joint third. Sibu were the looser pool winner.

The annual event was organised by Miri Division Lawn Tennis Associat ion ( MDLTA) and sanctioned by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA). A total of 67 players from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and PTBS took part in the championship.

The championship was aimed at providing local players here the opportunities to compete against opponents from throughout the state and to further promoting the sport in Miri, especially among youngsters.

According to MDLTA secretary Nurul Asyiqin Shi Thu Abdullah, more than half of the players were juniors.

She added that MDLTA is now focusing on Tennis Development Programme for Juniors and Beginners, which started in March last year. Currently, they have 96 players from 11 schools in the programme.

The association also organised workshop for coaches and players in October, which was conducted by former Malaysia coach Dean Hesham, who is now attached to SLTA and Sarawak State Sports Council.