ITF helps Indonesia host junior tourney<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has
\npoured in US$30,000 to enable Indonesia to stage the World Junior
\nAsia\/Oceania qualifying tournament for the second successive year
\nnext week.<\/p>\n
Tournament coordinator Mansyur Djabir admitted yesterday that
\nIndonesia would have been unable to host the international event
\nwithout a sponsor.<\/p>\n
Mansyur said the ITF opted to give the country another
\nopportunity to host the event after its successful organization
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
\"It's an honor that the ITF considers last year's tournament
\nhere was a big success.\"<\/p>\n
He said the world tennis body would cover all expenses for the
\nMay 4-May 10 event. Most of the funds will be spent on athletes'
\naccommodation.<\/p>\n
A total of 27 national squads -- 14 of them boys teams -- will
\nvie for three World Junior Championships berths available for
\nboth sexes. The world meet will be in Nagoya, Japan, next August.<\/p>\n
Each team will be made up of two singles players and a doubles
\nteam.<\/p>\n
The week-long tournament will be played at the Senayan tennis
\ncomplex in order to save money, according to Mansyur.<\/p>\n
\"We have cut our budget a lot by using our own tennis courts,\"
\nhe said. The decision to hold the tournament on clay has been
\napproved by the ITF.<\/p>\n
Host Indonesia will field Angeliqua Wijaya, Novianti Warsono,
\nand Diana Julianto -- all from West Java -- in the girls' event,
\nwhile Eko Kurniawan, Naharudin and Fandi Suyadi will form the
\nnational boys' team.<\/p>\n
National coach Deddy Prasetyo has been named the nonplaying
\ncaptain for the boys' team and Alfred Raturandang for the girls.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian girls' team, also spearheaded by the West Java
\nduo of Angeliqua and Novianti, qualified for the world
\nchampionships in Tokyo last year, after finishing third behind
\nAustralia and South Korea.<\/p>\n
Their male counterparts managed only fifth. Australia also won
\nthe boys' event after beating New Zealand in the final. India
\ncame third.<\/p>\n
Mansyur said the Indonesian Tennis Association expected its
\nteams to at least repeat their achievements of last year.<\/p>\n
\"The chance of success is unpredictable because although we
\nthink we've been improved, we never know how far our rivals have
\nprogressed,\" he said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/itf-helps-indonesia-host-junior-tourney-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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