Sabah so tennis players for na onal duty
Nine Sabah So Tennis Associa on (SSTA) players will be compe ng in two interna onal class tournaments in Korea next month.
KOTA KINABALU: Nine Sabah Soft Tennis Association (SSTA) players will be competing in two international class tournaments in Korea next month.
The state soft netters are Harish John Shailendra, Mark Reuben Pang, Johnaton Chan from Sandakan, Leviance Chong, Levander Christye Chong, Cristabel Ntakop Ndzi, Wong Min Han, Gladwin Lee and Mary Lonia Foo from Kota Kinabalu.
The players will take part in the The Korea Cup in Anseong from November 11-18 and the the 3rd World Junior Soft Tennis Championship in Sucheon commening on November 18-25.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Frankie Poon was informed of the participation when receiving a courtesy call from SSTA led by its president Richard Shak here yesterday.
Poon told the players to compete to their best abilities as they are not only representing the state but also the country.
"Be proud to represent the country and show fighting spirit and good sportmanship," he said.
Head coach KK Chin said the team would be headed by team manager Justin Liew Vun Shim with Yenny Oh and Chong Kiew On as the coaches for the boys and girls respectively.
Chin added that SSTA would focus on developing the sport in other districts since there were players in Sandakan interested in the game.
Earlier, Shak also briefed the minister on the Malaysian Soft Tennis Association had been submitted to the Malaysian Sports Commission in Putra Jaya in August 2018 for approval.
He also said that the Asian Soft Tennis Federation (ASTF) and the South East Asia Soft Tennis Federation (SEASTF) do recognised SSTA as the only state in Malaysia to have reccognised soft tennis Association.
At the same meeting, SSTA patron Alex Padua also requested to be given two extra covered courts at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas as the soft tennis balls are not be able to last long in hot weather.
He said players preparing for tournaments needed at least five hours a day of consistent training but the association could not take in more players since only two outdoor courts were being used presently.
Meanwhile, Poon said the ministry too would look into the resurfacing of the other courts Likas in view of ASTF agreeing to host the Second World Junior Championship.
Among those present during the courtesy call were the ministry permanent secretary Datuk Hj. Awang Damit Hj Ag. Anak and Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Pudin.