SINTOK, April 1 (Bernama) -- Kedah is committed to strengthening the development of tennis among youth to produce more potential talent for higher-level competitions.
State Consumer and Cost of Living, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Muhammad Radhi Mat Din said, in this regard, organising tennis tournaments in the state will serve as an important platform to identify and develop new talent, thereby positioning Kedah as a hub for youth development in the sport.
“It has been nearly 20 years since Kedah last hosted such a tournament, despite having full facilities. Therefore, we want more tournaments organised consistently, not just at the national level, but also at the state, district, and community levels.
“Without exposure through competition, it is difficult for young talent to be developed. We do not want this potential to be focused only on urban areas. Instead, it needs to be burnished throughout the state,” he said.
He told reporters this after officiating the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) Junior Tour 2026 at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) here today.
A total of 250 youth players are participating in the national-level tournament, which runs for five days beginning March 31 and involves the boys' and girls' under-12, under-14, and under-16 categories.
Muhammad Radhi added that Kedah currently lacks high-performance tennis players capable of competing on major stages such as the Malaysia Games (SUKMA).
“This shows that our level of involvement is still below expectations. However, tournaments like this can inject new spirit and serve as a starting point to produce players who are competent and capable of achieving success in future SUKMA editions,” he said.
Beyond fostering talent development, he said the tournament will also boost sports tourism in Sintok and Changlun, thus strengthening the local economy.
Meanwhile, LTAM president Mirzan Tun Mahathir said the tournament offers ranking points as players prepare for the national championships in June and December.
He added that the tournament helps discover new talent with the potential to be featured at higher levels, including the international stage.
-- BERNAMA
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