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| Sunday, 15 December 2002 |
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SLTA in massive US dollars 225,000 project to develop game by LAL GUNESEKERA The Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) has undertaken the largest-ever project at a total cost of US dollars 225,000 to convert five clay courts to hard courts and also resurface the three existing hard courts at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in Greenpath. Construction work is scheduled to commence in February or March next year (2003) and completed by mid June. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SLTA, Boshan Dayaratne, told the Sunday Observer that their aim is to have seven hard courts of international standard for which the cost is US dollars 175,000 (four new hard courts at a cost of US dollars 150,000 and resurfacing the existing courts US dollars 25,000). He also said that the SLTA had called for tenders which are being evaluated at the moment. All tenders have been sent by international brands in collaboration with local companies. The facilities will include a spectator area for about 300 to 400 persons, players lounge, changing rooms, flood lighting, storage facilities, electronic score boards as well as facilities for wheel chair tennis. The monies needed will come through sponsorship deals. Dayaratne also disclosed that the SLTA's junior development programme too is up for sponsorship at US dollars 25,000 per year. This includes the Mini Tennis programme all over the island involving over 40,000 children in the 5 to 10 age groups, Performance Tennis Initiative (PTI) programme as well as the SLTA's coaching programme for juniors. The President of the SLTA, Suresh Subramaniam, said that his plan is to set up at least 6 to 7 hard courts in each of the Mini Tennis Centres in the outstations (Kandy, Ratnapura, Bandarawela, Negombo, Kalutara and Batticaloa) and to provide each centre with a permanent coach and a Development Officer. He said: "The idea is to have district associations play a more influential and meaningful role in the development of the game in the outstation." Dayaratne further said that the Mini Tennis programme of the SLTA earned the commendation of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which named it one of the three best development programmes in the world, and as a reward, included Sri Lanka for its PTI - a scheme that will support the development of the better talents coming out of the Mini Tennis programme. The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) too awarded the SLTA with the "Most Improved National Association in 2001." There are eight international tournaments lined up to be staged in Sri Lanka next year (2003) starting with the South Asian Junior Championship from January 26 to February 6, followed by the Veterans International Championship from February 3 to 9, 20th ITF Junior (under-18) Championship from February 10 to 16, Jembo Mens Futures Championship from February 24 to March 2, Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV) competition from June 16 to 22, Jembo Women's Championship from August 18 to 24, Men's Futures Championship from August 25 to 31 and the third Men's Futures Championship from October 27 to November 2. The Jembo Men's and Women's Championships each involves prize money of US Dollars 10,000. "Wheel Chair Tennis which was started in 1976 is by far the fastest growing wheel chair sport in the world. Over 70 major tournaments take place annually in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia, with Asia hosting such events in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan and attracting major sponsors including Ericsson Communications and Nippon Electric Corporation (NEC). The SLTA hopes to develop this sport in Sri Lanka and have established a special committee too, and seeks sponsorship to implement a four-year development programme which has been divided into two phases. A sum of Rs. 3.4 million has been budgeted for Phase I, which will take place over a two year period, involving the purchasing of 12 new tennis wheel chairs etc. In anticipation of a successful Phase I, Phase II, will seek to acquire 12 more tennis wheel chairs and continue with other related activities and carries a budget of Rs. 4.7 million for three to four years, which includes promising Sri Lankan players to compete in tournaments overseas," said Subramaniam. |
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