Japan pick <b>Kuching</b> as venue for training stint – BorneoPost Online <b>...</b> |
| Japan pick <b>Kuching</b> as venue for training stint – BorneoPost Online <b>...</b> Posted: 22 Mar 2014 05:10 PM PDT by Ting Tieng Hee. Posted on March 23, 2014, Sunday KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre has become a top choice for Japan's national Boy's Under-14 team coach Hayato Sakurai to hold a training camp for his players. Hayato, who arrived here on Monday with his team of four boys and a trainer, has been training the players since then and the camp ended yesterday. The boys Naoki Tajima, Kazuma Aoki, Kai Kawano and Taisei, are preparing for the World Junior Team Championship Boys Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying scheduled for Apr 21-26 in New Delhi, India. They are accompanied by their trainer Tamami Kitamura. "We chose Kuching as our training camp venue because we like the facilities at SLTA Tennis Centre here. The weather here now is good unlike in Japan which is still cold now. "Our team is enjoying the training camp here and the people in Kuching are very friendly and hospitable," said Hayato who is team coach and captain. He was here in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as team coach and captain for Japanese boy's team for the WJTC Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying competition. Japan has always finished in the top four in recent years, having finished third in 2009, runners-up in 2011 and 2012, and third last year. Hayato also liked the environment at SLTA Tennis Centre which is surrounded by trees and greenery. "You can't find this kind of green environment in Tokyo because it is all concrete buildings in the city," he said. "While here, our boys were able to play and spar together with your junior players which is good for our boys as they get to play with players of other nationality and culture," Hayato added. "It is a very good exposure and experience for them," he said. After the Kuching stint, the Japanese team will return to Japan where they will play in a regional U-14 tournament before undergoing another three-day training camp in Tokyo and flying to India in mid-April. Meanwhile, SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew said Kuching is becoming popular with coaches and players wanting to come here to train, especially when it is winter in their countries. "As for Hayato's group, we have a mutual arrangement for him to use our facilities free of charge in return for him to help coach our juniors and also let his players practice together with them, which is a win-win situation for both parties," he said. Liew said SLTA had gained recognition by successfully organising international tennis tournaments. "Coaches wishing to bring their players for exposure overseas will look to SLTA to provide the necessary assistance and cooperation. "Other factors are our favourable weather, good location, facilities and cheap food," said Liew. He said the Japanese Junior Fed Cup team would also be coming to Kuching early to prepare for the Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying tournament that will be held at SLTA Tennis Centre from May 5-11. North Korea test-fires 30 missiles into sea   |
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