Martina is ATF committee executive

JAKARTA (JP): The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) announced on Saturday the appointment of Martina Widjaja as its development and tournament committee chairperson for Southeast Asia at its three-day annual general meeting.

"Actually, the meeting asked me to be responsible for the whole Asian region but I think it will be too difficult for me while concentrating on advancing Indonesian junior players," said Martina, the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti)'s head of development, promotion and international relations.

"It's much easier for me to focus on the Southeast Asian region. I will have to travel a lot if I am to be responsible for the whole Asian region."

"I specifically asked for this position if the participants at the meeting were going to give me any position. Athletes development is a very important sector in promoting tennis," Martina told reporters after the meeting at the Hotel Peninsula, West Jakarta.

The meeting reelected Eichi Kawatei of Japan to continue his two-year presidency as well as appointing other Asian tennis officials.

"Martina's appointment is a historic event because it is the first time in the ATF's history that there has been a woman on its management committee," Kawatei told reporters earlier at the conference.

When asked about the ATF's program for the next two years, he said the ATF would concentrate on promoting tennis more in the continent.

"The ATF will place more emphasis on the coaching and development of juniors to attain better achievements. Our priority is reflected by our new management committee's determination to focus on development and juniors," said Kawatei.

"We'll also give attention to improving referees and umpires as well as marketing and sponsorship efforts."

Herman Hu of Hong Kong was appointed as secretary-general as well as honorary treasurer.

The ATF has four divisions, each of which is headed by a vice president.

Zhang Xiao Ning of China was appointed as vice president responsible for development in the East Asian region. Zhang is also the coaching committee chairman.

Salvador Andrada of the Philippines is vice president for the Southeast Asian region and also chairman of the officiating committee, responsible for developing referees and umpires.

Anil Kumar Khanna of India is the South Asia vice president and also responsible for men's and women's tennis players for the Davis Cup and Federation Cup.

Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabar of Kuwait was appointed as the West Asia vice president and is also responsible for regional development. Meanwhile, Masaru Uchiyama was appointed to take charge of junior competitions.

Rustam Shaabdurrakhmanov of Uzbekistan was given responsibility for development in Central Asia while Park Young- duk of South Korea was given responsibility for marketing and sponsorship. (nvn)