Myanmar Hosts International Tennis Championship

An international tennis championship -- ITF 14 and Under Asian Championships 2011 Group (2), opened at the Theinphyu Tennis Court in Yangon Monday, aimed at nurturing new young generation of tennis players in the country.

Director of the Tennis Federation of Myanmar (TFM) U Maung Maung Lay told Xinhua, "Myanmar tennis sports is making progress in the country and our guys comprising junior and senior players can reach the advanced level. This will be a great test for our team".

Organized by the TFM and sponsored by some famous companies at home, the first tournament will run until Thursday, while the second from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, he said.

A total of 42 male and 25 female contestants from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Bhutan, Maldive, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Mongolia, Laos, Singapore, host Myanmar and ITF Team (West Asian) are competing in the tournament.

The tournament is divided into four categories as boy's singles, girl's singles, boy's doubles and girl's doubles.

Best four male performers and best four female's, who win first, second, third and fourth positions, will be offered chances to take part in the Asian Championship Group (1) to be held in Indonesia in March this year, he also disclosed.

In 2009, under-14 boy team of Myanmar won first in the year's World Junior Tennis Competition Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying tournament held in Yangon.

Myanmar had ever hosted such tournament in January 2004 and 2006.

Source: CRI English.com