Pelti plans to introduce tennis league soon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association will introduce
\nselection tournaments for players bidding to form the nucleus of
\nnational teams for international events.<\/p>\n
Director of the association's national team body Wimar
\nWitoelar told reporters on Wednesday that the program, to be held
\nevery six months, would start early next month with the selection
\nof Davis Cup players, who are scheduled to travel to Taipei on
\nSept. 27 for a crucial playoff.<\/p>\n
The tennis body will select the top 10 players according to
\nthe latest national rankings issued on March 31 and the six best
\njuniors between 15 and 20 for the selection tournaments, slated
\nto run from June 1 to June 6 at Senayan clay court.<\/p>\n
The so-called tennis league will offer a reconciliation
\nbetween the tennis body and rebel player Benny Wijaya. The former
\nnumber one player, now ranked fourth, will be allowed to play in
\nthe selection matches.<\/p>\n
It is bizarre, however, that the tennis body has included
\nJustedjo Tarik, retired national champion, as a stand-in
\ncontender. The former Asian Games gold medalist and Davis Cup
\nplayer in the 1970s and 1980s was placed 14th in the latest
\nnational rankings.<\/p>\n
\"All players will have to confirm their participation by May
\n25. If necessary, I will talk to them myself,\" Wimar said.<\/p>\n
The 16 players will be divided into four groups of four
\nplayers. After the round-robin matches, the winners will earn
\nthemselves places in all international engagements within the
\nnext six months. Group runners-up, meanwhile, will line up the
\ncountry's second team.<\/p>\n
Wimar said that after six months, the eight top players will
\ntake on the eight players ranked below them.<\/p>\n
\"We just want to foster a competitive atmosphere among players
\nthroughout the country and encourage provincial tennis bodies and
\nclubs to groom their players more enthusiastically,\" Wimar said.<\/p>\n
The selection matches for women's players will take place
\nafter the Fed Cup match between Indonesia and Switzerland in
\nJuly.<\/p>\n
Wimar also dismissed rumors that Indonesia's best players
\nwould skip the Davis Cup outing in Taipei due to their provincial
\nduties in the National Games from Sept. 9 to Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
\"I just talked to the Games committee's deputy of competition
\naffairs about starting tennis competitions two days before the
\nopening ceremony. The players will have a week of rest prior to
\nthe Davis Cup,\" said Eddy Katimansah, the association's foreign
\naffairs deputy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia plays Taiwan after losing 1-4 to South Korea in
\nFebruary and 0-5 to China in March. The loser will be relegated
\nto the Asia Oceania Group Two next season. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pelti-plans-to-introduce-tennis-league-soon-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}