SLTA renews effort to develop players for Sukma

KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association ( SLTA) are making the maximum use of the long break between April and September to organise junior tournaments in efforts to identify more potential players and groom them for Sukma and other national and international tournaments.

SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew said the association will be working closely with the sponsor Lea Sports Centre to organise more junior tournaments apart from hosting two graded events of the the rebranded ITF World Tennis Tour every year.

“Since tennis has been confirmed as an event in Sukma Johor next year, we are working hard to identify more potential players for selection purposes as well as giving the youngsters the opportunity to develop to the next level.

“We will also be going to more schools to recruit more junior players and enlarge our pool of players,” he said after closing the SLTA-LSC Slazenger Junior Tournament at SLTA Tennis Centre on Saturday.

While admitting the pool of junior players is getting smaller, Liew is hoping that the Sarawak Sports School will materialise soon.

“We are facing the problem of having to compete with other sports who are also looking for new talents and young people nowadays are more interesting in playing sports on their handphones and tablets,” he added.

However, Liew was consoled that through the efforts of teacher Stevie Din in SMK Tabuan Jaya, a group of students from the rural areas have been engaged in a training programme.

Meanwhile, Muhd Sufri Kasuadi claimed the Men’s Open crown when he blanked Mohd Farid 6- 0, 6- 0 in the final.

Joint third were Muhammad Nur and Bryan Chong.

The Women’s Open final saw Jancy Ceria defeating Tan Xin Hung 6-2, 6- 3 while in joint third were Shlle Joseph and Brigitte Chai.

Aaron Norman was crowned the U14 Mixed Open when he beat Ian Chong 6- 4, 6-3 in the final. Rafael Machau and Owen Wilson finished joint third.

The event jointly organised by SLTA and Kuching Lawn Tennis Association attracted 37 players from Sarawak and Perak.

Liew (seated at centre) with tournament director Stevie Din (second left) and officials with the winners after the prize presentation.