|
 |
News |
 |
|
| |
Email this article | 
Print
This Page
|
| |
A.T.F. workshops in Dubai |
| |
5/31/2006 2:42:33 PM |
| |
| |
31 May 2006
DUBAI — The Asia Tennis Federation (ATF) is shifting its focus to west Asia to help accelerate the development of the sport in the region.
A number of major tournaments are organised in west Asia annually, including the Dubai Open and Qatar Opens. But the controlling body for the sport on the continent wants to see the promotion of the game at the grassroots level with emphasis on junior development programmes.
Anil Khanna, president of ATF, who is in Dubai to attend the board of directors’ meeting, said the organisation is planning to move its administrative and tournament workshops to Dubai in September or October to oversee the development of the game in west Asia.
The one-day board meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday was also attended by Syed Dilawar Abbas of Pakistan, Suresh Supramanian of Sri Lanka, Philip Su of Chinese Taipei and Majid Al Mandri of Oman.
Khanna said: “Dubai is the preferred choice to set up the workshops to give west Asia tennis officials the necessary training for organisation and administration of the sport. The ATF also plans to draw up a five-year development programme with focus on under-14 events. The president called on all the affiliated-member countries to organise junior events, especially under-14 and under-18 tournaments. He said the federation selects a 16-member junior team from various Asian countries to Australia every year during the Australian Open. “We take them on a month’s coaching programme and give them the opportunity to watch the championship,” he said. The programme, according to him, is supported by the ATF, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Australian Open.
Missing teams
Khanna, who is also the vice-president and secretary general of the ITF, expressed disappointment at the absence of teams from west Asia during the Davis Cup under-16 event held in Malaysia recently.
“I am very concerned because only UAE sent a team. I understand that because of examinations, many countries could not send a team. I have to take the matter up with the ATF so that there would not be recurrence of it,” he said.
Another area which Khanna feels needs urgent attention is training of coaches. “It is a big problem to get good coaches. We plan to hold coaching education in partnership with the ITF from level one to three.” The ATF, according to the president, is also taking the same steps to improve officiating among the affiliated-member countries. He expressed the hope that more umpires from west Asia will participate in the Asian Games to be hosted by Qatar in December.
Touching on tennis in India, Khanna expressed satisfaction with the level of the game though it had lost some of its popularity. “India is finding it difficult now as other countries are coming up well.” But he noted that India today has about 37 men and 25 women on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Khanna hinted that there would be a four-Test series between India and Pakistan on November 13 this year. The first two series will be in Islamabad and Lahore before moving to India.
Syed Dilawar Abbas, vice-president of the ATF, who is also president of Pakistan Tennis Federation, reiterated the efforts being made to improve the standard of the game on the continent. “We would like to see the standard of tennis get a higher level in Asia. For this reason, we are instituting a number of junior programmes. He said Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Butan are working together for the promotion of tennis in that region. In Pakistan, he said there are a number of junior tournaments at national level. “We are putting in more effort to encourage the juniors after a break of many years,” he added.
|
| |
www.khaleejtimes.com |
news |
| |
Email this article |
Print
This Page
|
|
 |
| |
|
| Upcoming Events |
 |
|
| Upcoming Sports |
 |
|
| Featured Links |
| |
|
|
|
