Dunlop to take Tennis to the outskirts
View(s):‘Dunlop’ represented by Ralhum Sports Agents for Dunlop tennis equipment in Sri Lanka, once again rose to help the game of tennis in Sri Lanka by linking up with Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) to conduct an All-Island Talent Search Programme under the tagline ‘Dunlop tennis Star of the future’. The programme was initiated with the intention to scout for talented tennis players and unleash the potential in them 
With this objective an agreement was signed recently between Ralhum Sports and SLTA in the presence of official and all regional coaches. The programme will see fresh students who have not played tennis at all being invited to take part in the orientation programme to be held in each region.
The participants will be from the age of seven upwards and will be able to analysis their skills under the guidance of the regional coaches and coordinators. If the picked youngsters intend to continue and enjoy a successful tennis career they will be introduced to the ‘Dunlop tennis academy’ which is being expected to be launched in all the regions. This academy will conduct coaching programmes throughout the year and Dunlop will be supporting with the tennis equipment and other logistics.
On completion of continuous training for about nine months, each region will conduct its own tournament and select the winner and runner-up who will participate in the grand finale at end of the year in Colombo. Dunlop will also pick one regional star from each region and sponsor this talented star. The grand star will be crowned at the final as the ‘Dunlop Star of the year’.
Ravi Perera, the chairman of Outstation Development of the SLTA commenting on the programme said that he was thrilled with the programme and this will help to unearth good players for the future and can look forward to tennis being spread out and improved. Vipul Perera, the director of the programme, commented that he has conducted a similar talent search programme in Matale when he was the president of Matale Tennis Club seven years ago.
“This programme is designed based on that and hope to promote tennis in the outstation with this programme in joining hand with Dunlop and Ralhum Sports, which can be a successful venture in time to come,” he stated.
M.M. Mohamed, the managing director of Ralhum Sports was grateful to the SLTA for giving the opportunity for coming forward with this concept and being positive.
“Dunlop has always been in the forefront of helping tennis in Sri Lanka and was always linked to SLTA in all its programmes with the Dunlop ball being the official ball of Sri Lanka tennis. It has also helped deserving and talented players with appropriate sponsorship and happy to mention that Dineshkanthan Thangarajah, Sri Lanka’s No.1 ranked player was the first recipient of such a sponsorship. Dunlop is also presently sponsoring D.M. Gamini, the world ranked wheel chair tennis champion. Dunlop is also the official ball for national tennis championships, which we greatly take pride in,” he stated.
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