Sabahan teenager Nursharneem earns spot in prestigious Bollettieri academy

PETALING JAYA: Teenage tennis talent Nursharneem Imann Shamsuddin’s big break has finally arrived.

The 18yearold Sabahan has been invited to join tennis legend Nick Bollettieri’s (pic) academy in the United States – just months after she took part in a #TraintoWin tennis workshop, organised by former international V. Selvam and conducted by Bollettieri at the National Tennis Centre in Jalan Duta.

Within days, the young talent did enough to impress the veteran of the game.

Nursharneem will get the best of two worlds – benefit from worldclass tennis coaching under Bollettieri and savour a scholarship to pursue academic excellence.

She will join a college in North Carolina for four years and will pursue a degree in Sports and Fitness Management at Lees Mcrae.

Sabah Tennis Association (STA) president Johnson Koh is beaming with pride over the student from All Saints Secondary School in Kota Kinabalu.

“Our Sabah star has achieved her dream to further her studies and pursue her passion for tennis,” said Johnson.

“She started playing tennis at an early age and has always been very determined, disciplined and focused in her training.

“She has been very successful and won many small and major tournaments. She won the firstever gold for the state in the mixed doubles category at the Sarawak Sukma Games in 2016.

“What a great satisfaction it is to get into Nick’s academy. Nurs harneem has worked hard and her parents have been very supportive.

“STA hopes that many more will be encouraged and inspired to follow in the footsteps of Nursharneem.”

The youngster will leave for North Carolina on Aug 14 to meet her coach. She will start her studies on Aug 20 and the tennis season will begin in September.