Focus on Juniors at ATF General Assembly
THE Asian Tennis Federation’s annual General Assembly last weekend discussed in detail possible tournament sites for the newly introduced ATF Juniors and ATF 14 and Under (14U), pivoting junior development to strengthen the game in the continent.
The AGM was held at the Peninsula hotel in Manila and was jointly headed by International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty and ATF President Anil Khanna.
It was a historic first for Tennis Cambodia’s secretary-general Tep Rithivit who attended the assembly both as a newly elevated ATF board member and also as the Asian body’s chairman of juniors and rankings.
The national calendar for the coming year was one of the vital parts of the business session and several individual federations chose to hold bilateral talks to improve cooperation and support.
As the delegates worked on the new junior structure and suggested venues, the floor also took up a critical review of the 14U Closed Championship that was held for the first time ever in East Asia during September.
“It’s a great honour for me being a board member for the ATF, and more importantly being able to give more voice to our small but determined tennis nation,” Tep Rithivit said.
“With our newly elected President of Tennis Cambodia, Sear Rithy, and our close relationship with both the ATF and ITF, we are soon entering a very exciting 2019 for Tennis Cambodia.”
Also there were former ITF Executive Director of Development, David Miley, who is now working closely with the ATF, current ITF Executive Director of Development, Luca Santilli, and ITF Development Officer of South, Southeast and East Asia, Jonathan Stubbs.