KUCHING: International Tennis Federation (ITF) representative Jonathan Stubbs praised Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association’s (SLTA) ever improving facilities and quipped that it has the potential to have 60 courts in the future.
Stubbs was complimenting the efforts of Datuk Patrick Liew, the president of SLTA, and his team for their efforts to enhance the standards of tennis and hosting international tournaments at SLTA.
He said that everytime he comes to SLTA, more tennis courts are available for the benefit of the players and international tournaments to compete at SLTA.
“In the last 20 years you (SLTA) have had 130 ITF tournaments, so this is an incredible achievement.
“Ten to 15 years ago this used to be a carpark up here and every time I come here, there will be more courts.
“Maybe we will end up with 60 courts. We don’t know,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony of 2024 ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championship Finals Boys/Girls at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association today.
Stubbs however cautioned against the prevailing intense heat, reminding the players to be in the shade after games.
“We hope you will have a great week. It’s going to be pretty hot so hopefully you have some shade,” he said.
The international tennis tourney is playing host to 68 players, including 32 girls from 22 countries, from today until Apr 20.
The countries are China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Iran, Maldives, Yemen and Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
For the record, each country is fielding two boys and two girls and the top two players will be selected to play in competitions in Wimbledon.
Also present were Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Xing Wei Ping and SLTA president Datuk Patrick Liew.
