Sri Lankan wheel-chair tennis duo for Adelaide

ITF Cruyff Foundation International Asia/Oceania Junior Camp:

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Sri Lankan junior wheel-chair tennis duo Umesha Madumali Chandrika Alahakone and Henerath Hettiarachchige Uthpala Chandimal left the country to participate in the ITF Cruyff Foundation International Asia/Oceania Junior wheel-chair Camp, organized by the ITF wheel-chair Tennis Department which is being held from October 3 to 7 at the Broadview Tennis Club in Adelaide, South Australia.

After Sri Lanka made a rapid progress in the world wheel-chair tennis scene in recent times, ITF wheel-chair Tennis Department has invited two players from Sri Lanka to attend the ‘Junior Training Camp’. It will be a great opportunity for our players and SLTA accepted the ITF’s invitation.

This camp is being tailored for both new and experienced junior players and ITF expect to mould this young talents to formidable players in future who will reach national and international heights.

Players from Malaysia, Thailand, Philippine, Sri Lanka and Australia will take part in the camp where a tournament will be worked off among the participants in the latter part.

The camp attracted the best junior wheel-chair tennis players in the Asia/Oceania region. The junior event will focus on reiterating standards of professionalism, including expectations, minimum standards of success and on-court levels of intensity. The training will provide guidance for doubles combinations with creating a team environment/ethos, match tactics and strategies along with technical advice and preparation for the junior tournament at the end of the camp.

Two experienced Australian coaches, Greg Crump (Australian National Coach) and Martin Richards (South Australian State Coach) will conduct the training sessions.

Umesha and Uthpala are the best junior local wheel-chair tennis players, who are residing at the ‘Sewana’ Children’s home in Kotte. Shalini de Silva accompanied the players as coach.