Sarawak’s eight for Sukma tennis demo tourney
KUCHING: Sarawak will be sending eight players to compete in the tennis competition in Sukma XIX in Perak from Sept 15 to 19.
They are Low Zhe Han, Rohaizat Achop Borhan Janang, Jimmy Liong and Muhammad Aiman Hamdan ( men’s team) and Soo Hui Jen, Jancy Ceria Odau, Lydia Liong and Tan Xin Hung (women’s team).
“We are not sending the strongest players to this competition because tennis is only a demonstration event at Sukma XIX and due to financial constraints.
“Our top players are studying and training overseas and it would be very costly to bring them back for the competition now known as the Inter- State Tennis Championship,” said Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association president Dato Patrick Liew yesterday.
He said SLTA had originally intended to send Tan Lin En and Tan Lin Xin but they will be playing in other tournaments.
According to Liew who is Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia tournaments committee chairman, al l 14 states wi l l be participating in the tennis competition.
We are not sending the strongest players to this competition because tennis is only a demonstration event at Sukma XIX and due to financial constraints.
The match format is based on two singles and one doubles and each team must have a minimum of four players.
“We are also using this meet to lobby for support for tennis to be included as one of the core sports for all future Sukma.
“There is no medal target set for the Sarawak team because the players we are sending are part of our preparations for Sukma Johor in 2020 and also for Sukma 2022 and 2024,” added Liew.
Managing the Sarawak team is Stevie Din while Chang Sig is the team coach.
Dato Patrick Liew, Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association president