THOUGH the CEO & Celebrity Charity Tennis is only a charity event, Tuahku Sdn Bhd CEO Muhd Iqbal Sulaiman is taking the challenge seriously.
After recording a top-10 finish in the 2010 edition, Iqbal is determined to make a lasting impression on Dec 9.
He has hired former Indonesia international Marco Setipu as his training partner.
Setipu, 43, who played on the ATP tour in the 1990s, has been helping Iqbal polish his strokes four times a week at the Jalan Duta Stadium.
“I am very passionate about tennis. I have travelled the globe to watch grand slams and the World Tour Finals,” said Iqbal at Balai Berita in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I play tennis to destress myself after a hard day at work. I hope to do well and, hopefully, I can finish in the top-10 bracket.
“The event also gives participants the opportunity to build closer ties with their colleagues in a fun activity while contributing to a good cause.”
Iqbal, 38, started playing tennis at 12 after watching German Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl at the Wimbledon final.
The Kuala Lumpur-born was an active player as a junior but forfeited his dreams to pursue his studies.
However, Iqbal began playing tennis actively three years ago after realising that he was not getting any exercise.
Iqbal, a regular on the Malaysian Tennis Circuit, is ranked in the top-120 bracket on the national men’s singles rankings.
After first being held in 2008, the the CEO and Celebrity Charity Tennis is making a return after a one-year lapse.
The doubles event will see a player being paired off with different partners and must complete five matches and the player with the highest points will be declared champion.
NST and eCEOs Sdn Bhd are joint organisers of the fourth edition of the event while Dunlop, Mohamed Ridza & Co, Petra Energy Berhad, Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad, Mudajaya Group Berhad and the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia are the official partners. - www.nst.com.my
