PHOTO: AHMAD ISKANDAR
KUCHING: Sarawak is set to play host to four major tennis tournaments this year which are organised by the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA).
The first event will be the 12th ATF Asian 14/U Series from 13 – 17 September which will see approximately 100 players from 12 or 13 countries.
The second one is the 30th Sarawak Chief Minister Cup (II) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 3) which will see around 220 to 250 players from 25 countries taking part in it from 10 to 15 October.
Straight after that is the ITF Men’s Pro Circuit from 16 – 22 October which will see 80 participants from 15 countries with a cash prize of USD 15,000.
Lastly is the Genting Tennis Malaysia National Circuit – Sarawak Open 2017 which will see participation from players from about six or seven countries.
According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth, and Sports Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah all four tournaments will be held in Kuching.
“This is also part of the efforts to make sports as an attraction in Sarawak, which will promote the sports tourism industry and making the state a sports powerhouse.
“We will see many championship series being held here, which will make the sports industry in Sarawak more interesting.
“I hope to see this for other sports in Sarawak, not just tennis,” he said to reporters during a press conference.
SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew, who was also present, added that this is one of the ways to make Sarawak more well-known.
“We have international-standard facilities and foreign players also love coming to Sarawak due to the food and hospitality of the people here.
“This is the best way to put Sarawak on the world map,” said Liew.
The press conference was held after the SLTA paid a courtesy call to Karim at Bangunan Baitulmakmur here yesterday.
