Tennis tourney sees increase in teams and prize money
Kota Kinabalu: The 9th series of the Sabah Invitational team tennis tournament known as 1 Malaysia Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor Challenge trophy’s prize money has been increased to RM15,000 from the previous RM10,000.
With the increase of prize money team participation has also increased to 16 teams this year.
The tournament is being held from September 16-18.
A managers meeting was held Thursday night where all the team managers attended.
The 5 doubles events to be competed are men’s 25, 35, 45 and 55 and above while the women’s doubles is 35 years and above.
This format has been retained since the 1st tournament in 2008.
As a practice Sabah Tennis Association (STA) will ensure all the teams have an enjoyable stay in Sabah.
Sports tourism is also part of the objectives of this tournament.
Both the Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan and Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun have all these years been very supportive of this tournament and will do so every year.
Masidi will host a welcoming dinner on September 17.
As in previous years this tournament has attracted players from 7 foreign countries namely Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Peninsula states and local district players.
STA President Johnson Koh and the organising chairman Daniel Tan ensured that all the teams are briefed on the logistic obstacles of the 4 venues this year due to the Likas tennis courts undergoing roofing works and the Sutera Harbour covered courts in use for a concert.
The 4 venues are Sabah Golf & Country Club, Kinabalu Golf Club, Sutera non covered courts and Likas tennis courts not involved in the roofing works.
During the managers meeting all likely obstacles were briefed and all team managers were receptive of the existing situation and will cooperate their best to ensure a smooth and successful tournament. The first round knockout play will place the teams into the top half and the bottom half on a best of pro set games 8.
The winning teams will be grouped into 2 groups and the loser teams into another 2 groups.
They will again play a pros set to determine the 2 semi-finalists of each placing.
The bottom half will then play the pro set to determine the 9-16 placings.
The top half will play on a 2 plus 1 super tie break 3-set win to determine the champion and 8 placings.
Play on the first day went as scheduled except for a scare the late in morning when the weather threatened to rain.
A welcoming dinner for the teams will be held on the September 17 hosted by Masidi.
Source: Daily Express
