Kota Kinabalu: Hong Kong’s Ho Wan Yeung emerged a double champion at The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF14&U) Asian-level tennis tournament held at Sandakan District Tennis Association in the district from Nov 8-14.
Wan Yeung won the Boys’ Singles title by defeating Marcus Lorenzo Go of the Philippines in the final and he further proved that his long journey from Hong Kong to Sandakan was worthwhile by also clinching the Boys’ Doubles title together with his partner, Mason Jairus Ho of Malaysia after they defeated Cambodia’s Aleksander Mikheichev and his partner Marcus Lorenzo Go of the Philippines.
The tournament was participated by a total of 60 players (20 girls and 40 boys). Singapore recorded the highest number of foreign participants with 14 players, followed by the Philippines (3), Korea (2), Moldova (1), Japan (1), Indonesia (2), Cambodia (2) and Hong Kong (1).
Malaysia was represented by 34 players.
In the Girls’ category, the Malaysian players dominated. Zara Iris Safiyyah Firman Nawadzir defeated Korea’s Kim Gahyun in the final to win the Girls’ Singles title.
Team Malaysia continued their strong performance in the Girls’ Doubles category, where Atikah Raihannah Mahathir and her partner Isabella Rihanna Mohammad Azim defeated the Korean pair of Kim Gahyun and Dain Lee in the final.
The President of the Sabah Tennis Association (STA) Dr. Terrence Soong expressed his appreciation to the tournament director, Silvester Lawai, for his tireless efforts from the preparation stage right up to the completion of the event.
He also thanked the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) for their strong support in making this tournament possible.
He further extended his heartfelt thanks to the tournament referee, Gregory Tan, and the team of officials for managing all the matches exceptionally well.
Dr. Soong hoped that tournaments of this calibre could continue to be organised in Sabah in the future to further enhance the State’s tennis development and performance.
