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Red shirts to promote Junior tennis
“The Ceylonese Rugby Football Club (CR&FC) is not going to confine its sports activities to rugby only. We are striving to spread our wings to other disciplines for the membership to enjoy and relax,” said, Ravi Balasuriya, president of the club at a confab to organize and promote junior tennis at the CR and FC.

This is the second such venture by them. Thanks to the sponsorship package coming from Navigation Maritime Colombo (Pvt) Ltd., for the second successive year.

Last year it was an Open tournament. But the response did not have the desired effect. This year in collaboration with the sponsors CR has organized a Hanjin Junior tennis tournament for juveniles (boy s and girls – Under 12 and 16) from January 2nd to 8 at their clay courts.

Besides tennis, the club also caters to squash. Plans are also afoot to have two floodlit badminton courts. Football is another popular sport akin to rugby. The Longden Place club will be a central venue in Colombo for soccer. We have signed a package with the Football Federation to that effect. Schools and the clubs will be able to dribble here.

CR has organized a tennis coaching academy for the juniors handled by Arul Amalnathan an Indian qualified coach, who is doing an excellent job. It’s open to all in order to harness talent at grassroots level.

This tournament itself gives them the much needed exposure to indulge in competitive tennis. Already over 60 boys and girls have entered. Prizes are abundantt for the winners and runners up including gift vouchers to buy tennis gear. With a view to encourage middle level players (unseeded) who turn in good efforts over seeded players too will be in line for awards as an encouragement. There will be a CR members doubles (for members only). The finals will be on the afternoon of Jan. 8.

The SLTA has given its approval for this junior tournament. Others who attended the briefing on Dec. 29. are:Ronnie Gunaratne (vice president) Hadley Rodrigo (Hanjin Shipping) and Chula Dharmadasa.

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