seabiscuit
Feb 1st, 2003, 07:06 PM
By Martin Yee
January 28, 2003
SARAWAK, the only ITF circuit venue in Malaysia, will lobby to host the
women's circuit in 2004 to raise the status of tennis in the State.
Sarawak will host two legs of the men's junior circuit this year but the
State wants more.
Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president Patrick Liew told a
Press conference yesterday, that he hoped to hold the event with another
venue, like Kuala Lumpur or Brunei, to be able to be included on the ITF
calendar. So far, Thailand, South Korea and India are the only Asian countries
hosting the women's ITF circuit.
"We hope to work towards having two venues linked together as our main
concern is logistics. Players throughout the world will look at logistics
to come to compete," said Liew.
"The hosting of such an event will give the game a higher profile as the
women's event, apart from its appeal, has longer rallies and unlike the
men's event, is not so aggressive to provoke emotions."
Liew said potential hosts have to take into consideration its facilities
such as courts and club house as well as prize money of about US$15,000 to
US$25,000.
Sarawak, who have hosted the ITF junior tournaments for past five years,
is the second State to host two-legs of the international event this year.
The event, which is being up-graded to Group 4 for this year, has
attracted 120 players from 27 countries. It is scheduled for March 10-16.
Liew also said that the construction of a club house at Jalan Crookshank
is ahead of schedule with about 80 per cent of the work completed.
It will be completed in time for the upcoming ITF World Junior Tennis
Circuit in early March and will be officially declared open by the State
Chief Minister on March 26.
Copyright 2003 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
January 28, 2003
SARAWAK, the only ITF circuit venue in Malaysia, will lobby to host the
women's circuit in 2004 to raise the status of tennis in the State.
Sarawak will host two legs of the men's junior circuit this year but the
State wants more.
Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president Patrick Liew told a
Press conference yesterday, that he hoped to hold the event with another
venue, like Kuala Lumpur or Brunei, to be able to be included on the ITF
calendar. So far, Thailand, South Korea and India are the only Asian countries
hosting the women's ITF circuit.
"We hope to work towards having two venues linked together as our main
concern is logistics. Players throughout the world will look at logistics
to come to compete," said Liew.
"The hosting of such an event will give the game a higher profile as the
women's event, apart from its appeal, has longer rallies and unlike the
men's event, is not so aggressive to provoke emotions."
Liew said potential hosts have to take into consideration its facilities
such as courts and club house as well as prize money of about US$15,000 to
US$25,000.
Sarawak, who have hosted the ITF junior tournaments for past five years,
is the second State to host two-legs of the international event this year.
The event, which is being up-graded to Group 4 for this year, has
attracted 120 players from 27 countries. It is scheduled for March 10-16.
Liew also said that the construction of a club house at Jalan Crookshank
is ahead of schedule with about 80 per cent of the work completed.
It will be completed in time for the upcoming ITF World Junior Tennis
Circuit in early March and will be officially declared open by the State
Chief Minister on March 26.
Copyright 2003 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad