adminSisa Sihwa, Sport Reporter
ALL is set for the Under- 18 International Tennis Federation tournament to be held in city this month.
The event which is scheduled to run from 5 to 10 March at the Bulawayo Country Club.
Sixty four players from Botswana, South Africa, USA, Australia, Greece and India will be competing in the prestigious junior competition for both men and women.
The event, organised by ITF is an international world rankings tourney which enables players to compete for points which gives them an opportunity to rise through the world rankings.
Raggs Chikunichawa, the Bulawayo Metropolitan Tennis Board chairman said preparations for the event have reached an advanced stage.
“We are now at an advanced phase in terms of preparations for the Under-18 ITF tournament. Sixty four players from across the continent, India including some parts of the world will be competing against each other in both men and women categories. The competition will be played in a knockout format from the first rounds up to the final match and players will take on each other to attain points that will mark their position in the world rankings,” said Chikunichawa.
“We are ready for the tournament as our players from various camps have been gearing up for the big stage. Our top players in the country from Bulawayo and Harare will also be competing in the tourney, so we are confident that they will gunner huge points,” he added.
He said the Bulawayo Country Club was suitable venue as the Bulawayo Athletic Club had fewer tennis courts.
“We decided to use the country club as our venue as it has the suitable tennis courts and minimum required number to host such an event, after an initiative by the BMTB to establish and refurbish new tennis courts was hampered by lack of finances,” Chikunichawa revealed.
Chikunichawa said that players who above the age of 13 will be allowed to participate at the competitions.
“Players who are below the age of 13 will not be allowed to compete at the tournament and the draw will be conducted today at the Bulawayo Country Club and on an online platform as it is an automated system,” he said. @ J_sihwa
derick.khumalo