Pelti to send junior players to Asian tennis tournaments

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) will send 12 junior players to compete in two under-14 tournaments in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Sunu Wahyu Trijati, Anthony Tan and Sandi Purnomo will compete in the boys' side while Ayu Fani Damayanti, Golda Rubina and Lavinia Tananta will be in the girls' side at the World Junior Tennis Competition in Colombo from May 1 to May 7.

"We don't aim to win the world competition but we must send our best youngsters to the prestigious event," Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said on Tuesday.

"It is not a big problem if they win or lose at the event as long as they perform their best. It's also to give them competitive experience."

The juniors were selected from 16 players who competed in trials in Jakarta that ended on Monday.

Pelti also selected six players to participate in the East Asian Under-14 Tennis Camp in Malaysia, after an invitation from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Seno Hartono, Fajar Kharisma and Felix Fernandes will represent the boys while Denise Harijanto, Nancy Metrya and Cecillia Isadora will participate in the girls' division.

Players at the camp, to be held from April 8 to April 21, will compete in an international tournament.

"In addition to the six designated players for the camp, Pelti is also sending Sunu and Ayu to Malaysia as part of their preparation for the world competition," Benny said.

"Being top players in their own divisions, Sunu and Ayu are also expected to get a ticket to join the East Asian team, which will have a European tour. The team will comprise the best players taken from the tennis camp."

Benny said Indonesia's Angelique Wijaya an the example of a player who followed a European tour after taking part in a tennis camp. (nvn)