KUALA LUMPUR: The Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (Tennis Malaysia) is taking a step forward to produce more young talent by introducing a new junior development programme called R-O-G.
Its president, Mirzan Mahathir, said the R-O-G, the culmination of discussions with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) as well as with other national tennis associations with successful junior programmes, will focus on children eight to ten years old and will be implemented at the state level from this year.
“We felt that after seven years of implementing the existing programme, it is time to review the results and address the issues that limited the ability of our juniors to realise their potential.
“We will brief our affiliates, coaches, players, parents and other stakeholders so that all of us can make this programme successful,” he said at the press conference here yesterday.
He said players aged ten years and below will develop their skills using the red, orange and green balls as stipulated by the ITF.
They play using smaller, lighter racquets on mini-tennis courts with lowered nets. Each state affiliate along with clubs under the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) programme are encouraged to have their players participate in a monthly tennis competition.
“Those that are determined by the affiliate to be in the top four in each age category can then compete in regional tournament held every six months,” Mirzan said, adding that there will be five regions – North, South, East, Central and Sabah-Sarawak-Labuan – and the top three players from each age category at the regional level will be invited to compete in a National Championships twice a year after the completion of the regional tournaments.
“We are embarking on this new junior development programme with the objective of creating future champions. The support of all stakeholders is vital to ensure success in achieving this goal,” he said. – BERNAMA
