Tennis academy in Sabah

A PLAN to set up a tennis academy at theSutera Harbour Resort is in the works as the resort teams up with Sabah Tennis Association (STA) to promote the game in the state. The initiative is expected to start next monthfor a three-year period in collaboration with Pure Tennis, a tennis academy based in Singapore, said STA. “This programme will definitely give special impetus to tennis in Sabah,” the association added. “Details will be announced by Sutera Harbour at a later date, and STA is working closely with the resort on this matter.” Both parties have actually been working closely for several years and plans to embark on a more aggressive route is in order as the resorts’s general manager Bryan Werner comeson board. A very active sportsman and experienced sports organiser, Werner metwith Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) president Tan Sri Abdul Razak Latiff at the resort in Kota Kinabalu recently. The STA, whicharranged the meeting, hopes to see more international tennis events held in the state. STA president Johnson Koh mapped out Sabah tennis to Abdul Razak and also briefed him on the Level One coaches course. He also emphasised on the need for moretournaments in Sabah. “During the meeting, a request was forwarded to LTAM to give one slot to Sabah to host one of the leg of the Tennis Futures in Kota Kinabalu. This will be jointly hosted by STA and Sutera Harbour. “Abdul Razak immediately agreed on the matter and will advise STA on the dates for the leg to be held next year,” said Koh. In the meantime, Sutera Harbour has also agreed to sponsor the 1Malaysia Datin Rosmah Mansor Team Tennis Invitational and the Asia Tennis Federation (ATF) Under-14 tournament on July 13-15 and Sept 23-27 respectively. - By Kristy Inus.