Tan trio hog limelight at LSC-SLTA junior tourney

KUCHING: The Tan siblings stole the show as Kuching players stamped their domination at the LSC-SLTA Junior Open tennis tournament that ended at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre yesterday.

15-year old Tan Lin Xin beat Brigita Chai 6-3, 5-7 (12-10) in an all-Kuching final in the Girls Open while younger brother 13-year-old Lin En, who was the boys singles first runner-up in last week’s ATF 14 & Under Series, claimed the Boys Open crown after winning all his three matches in the round-robin competition.

Muhd Sufri Kasuadi of Kota Samarahan was second in this four-player category.

In the Boys U12, 11-year old Lin Lerk edged Ayden Deen Heshaam 7-6, (7-5) 6-3 for the title.

Meanwhile, Kuching’s Bryan Chong beat teammate Jared Ho -0, 6-2 for the Boys U14 crown while the Girls U14 champion was Tan Xin Hung of Kuching who defeated teammate Natalie Usun 6-1, 6-2.

Minkee Oosthizen of Bintulu took the Girls U12 title after she outplayed Sakura Yamada from Miri 6-0, 6-3 in the final.

For the Red Ball Group which featured four players all from Kuching, Ian Chong emerged the champion when he beat Wan Afiqah Wan Daud 21-5, 21-2.

The competition, organised by SLTA and jointly sponsored by Lea Sports Centre (LSC) and SLTA, attracted 43 participants from Kuching, Samarahan, Saratok, Serian, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Tatau.

It was supported by Unit Sukan Prestasi Tinggi (USPTN) and Sarawak State Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya.