SLTA’s capability in hosting big tourneys gets praise from ATF veep
KUCHING: Asian Tennis Federation vice-president Rithivit Tep is highliy impressed with the way Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) organises and run major tournaments such as the current International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Junior Team Asia-Oceania Under-14 Boys and Girls Final Qualifier.
The secretary of the Cambodia Tennis Association, who is also ATF co-chairman for junior development and coaching, is here on his personal initiative to observe how SLTA is conducting the ITF-sanctioned event.
“I have heard so much about and seen the reports on SLTA activities for many years, and this is my first time in Kuching to learn from SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew, whom I have known for more than 10 years.
“I have been to Kuala Lumpur several times, but this (SLTA) centre is far different from the national setting-up in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere.
“You can feel the vibrancy here. The facilities here are in good shape, the centre is surrounded with greenery and there are many courts available for hosting major events; the maintenance is good as the court surfaces get re-surfacing every few years,” Rithivit told The Borneo Post when met after attending the team captains’ meeting for the Boys Under-14 Asia-Oceania final qualifier yesterday.
He added: “I had no idea about this place before I came to Kuching.
“I knew that it’s good, but I think you could only confirm it upon seeing it. And I am very impressed with what I saw.
“I think the organisation (SLTA) is a success story by itself, and I believe I can learn much from Patrick, a social entrepreneur who has become a tennis influencer in this region.
“To me, he is a tennis maker in South-East Asia and he has a very good team around him to help organise local, national and international events.”
Meanwhile, 16 teams will be vying for three tickets to the grand finals of the 2024 ITF World Junior Tennis Competition, to be held in Prague, Czech Republic this August.
They are Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Top seeds South Korea are drawn in Group A, with fifth seeds Hong Kong, New Zealand and Indonesia, while third seeds Australia are in Group B with sixth seeds Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Thailand, the fourth seeds, have the company of eighth seeds Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka and Iran, while Group D are made up of second seeds India, seventh seeds Japan who won last year, Singapore and China.
Each team comprises three players and a captain, and each tie is based on two singles and one doubles matches.
Others who were present at the team captains meeting yesterday were ITF representative Zhou Wenxue, ITF referee Hany El Khafief and SLTA officials.