Tennis: Penampang Avakas Tennis Club to make competitive debut
Published on: Thursday, February 29, 2024
By: GL Oh
Leslie (left) poses with the coaches and players.
Kota Kinabalu: Newly established Penampang Avakas Tennis Club (KTAP) will be making their debut in the local tournament scene at the Sabah Junior Tennis Tour circuit one in Sandakan from March 1-3.
Club president Leslie Jong said on Wednesday that a total of 20 players from their junior development programme are to compete in the Under-10, 12, 14, 16 singles and doubles categories.
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“It’s history in the making as this will be the first time a tennis club originating from the district of Penampang is sending a team to compete in a state level tournament against other district associations such as Kota Kinabalu, Keningau and Sandakan, who are regarded as powerhouse in the junior competition.
“Since the formation of this club in the middle of 2023, we have been focusing on our development programme to recruit and produce junior tennis players under the watchful eyes and guidance of our well respected and experienced coaches Firdaus Shukor, Dzulkifly Awang and William Lo.
“We are confident that our team led by Sabah Games 2023 champion Samuel Guansing who is to compete in the boys’ Under-16 category will give a good fight against the best juniors from other districts.
“We also have high hope on Nurfahan Natasha (girls Under-16), Mohd Farhan Irfan and Nathan Guansing (boys Under-14), Tatiana Guansing and Sana Kinami (girls Under-12), Gideon Gerald Shim (boys Under-10) and Rena Kinami (girls Under-10) to do well,” he said.
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He also said the main purpose of setting up the club is hoping to restore the past glory of players from the district.
“Penampang had produced many men and junior State champions in the past such as Desmond Guansing, Roger Lim and the late Neville Boyou.
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“They had brought back many titles at the state and national levels, and we are hoping to replicate their success with our development programme,” he said.
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