Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has etched its name in the regional tennis calendar by becoming the first Malaysian state to host the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy Tennis Camp by Movistar, organised by EducaTennis.
The five-day camp, which runs from April 20 to 24 at a venue here, is drawing participants from as young as seven years old to seasoned players in their fifties.
The training programme follows the renowned methodology of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, offering local and international players a rare opportunity to train under coaches flown in directly from the academy’s main campus in Mallorca, Spain.
Participants travelled from various countries to attend, including tennis enthusiasts from Canada, Indonesia, China, Japan and Sarawak, with homegrown talents from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Keningau. Four of Sabah’s state players are currently undergoing intensive training in the camp.
Leading the coaching team are Roberto Puig, Jaime Pombo, Santiago Perez and Italian coach Alberto Robinelli. The Spanish coaches have been putting participants through their paces while ensuring the sessions remain enjoyable and highly educational.
The event has also provided a unique platform for local coaches. State coaches Dzulkifly Awang and Aaron Bradley were given the invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas on junior development with the academy’s experts, alongside Noel Maxwell and Clare Godon.
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Sabah Tennis Association (STA) expressed its gratitude to the organisers for bringing the world-class event to the state.
“We thank Joan Pons and EducaTennis for giving Sabah this opportunity to host this international event with world-class training methods and coaches,” said Dr. Terrence Soong, President of STA and Kota Kinabalu Lawn Tennis Association.
Dr. Soong also voiced STA’s hope for a return engagement, adding, “We hope that Sabah will be given another opportunity in the future to host the Rafa Nadal Academy Tennis Camp again in the near future.”
With the camp still ongoing until Friday, organisers expect continued high energy on the courts as participants soak up the rare chance to train the ‘Rafa way’ in the heart of Borneo.
