Players from 13 nations to compete in ITF junior tournament

Chandigarh, Dec 24 (UNI) Leading junior players of 13 nations will participate in the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament (Group 3) being organised by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association(CLTA) at the Sector 10 Tennis Stadium here from January 1 to 6 next year.

The qualifying matches will be played on December 30 and 31.

According to CLTA chairman Rajan Kashyap that six wild cards would be decided by the All India Tennis Association and the CLTA.

Entries have been confirmed from Japan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Thailand, Poland, Korea, Indonesia, China, Romania, Canada, Portugal, Morocco and India .

Local lad Kinshuk Sharma (ITF ranked 240) has withdrawn due to annual examinations. In his absence Vijayant Malik and Shiva Sangwan will lead the Chandigarh challenge in the boys singles. Vijayant Malik, who has recently performed creditably, is a trainee of the famous CLTA Rural Academy. Talented Shiva Sangwan is also a product of the CLTA.

With the withdrawal of some players, alternates Garry Singh Amor and Gurmohit Singh, both of CLTA, are likely to figure in the main draw. Navinder Pal Singh Sidhu from Patiala, with an ITF ranking of 418, is another player from this region. He got got direct entry into the main draw.

According to latest Tournament Factsheet, Rifat Biktyakov of Uzbekistan is the leading player in the boys singles main draw. His ITF ranking is 187. He is followed by 231 st ranked Aswin Vijayaragavan of India.

In the girls singles main draw, the top eight players are foreigners. Lutfiana Aris Budiharto (Indonesia) is leading with 103rd ranking and Liu Shao - Zhuo (China) is second ranked with 124 ITF ranking. They are followed by Nadia Lalami (Morocco) 165, Yana Kireeva (Russia) 169, Jessy Rompies (Indonesia ) 180, Aleksandra Kolesnichenko (Uzbekistan) 204, Nigora Sirojiddinova (Uzbekistan) 218 and Beatrice Gumulya (Indonesia) 234.

Mr Kashyap said that five girls from Russia would feature in the main draw. Three will be from Indonesia, two from Uzbekistan, one each from Uzbekistan, Canada, China and Morocco. The rest in the main draw of 48 will be from India.

ITF White Badge Parveen Kumar of Chandigarh Sports Council has been appointed Referee of the Tournament.

UNI XC HS DH PM1841