JEDDAH, 4 January — The stage is set and all systems are configured for the launching of the Malaysia Airlines Challenge, a team tennis tournament that opens and banners the Year 2002 of competitive tennis among the various tennis clubs in this city. Organized by ASTEC (Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah) and principally sponsored by Malaysia Airlines, the event is time-framed for Feb. 1- March 15, 2002 with the famous Al-Bilad tennis courts as venue.
ASTEC cranked up its planning machineries — from financing & budgeting, facilities & safety administration, scheduling, down to program coordination — and now put in place its system groups ready to function. The Al-Bilad Recreation manager, Liam Fitzgerald, confirmed the tourney venue. Moreover, ASTEC received the approval and agreement of sponsorship from Morad Mohammad Omar, the airlines’ area manager for Saudi Arabia, during a meeting last Dec. 25 at the Malaysia Airlines office in the distinct Jamjoom Building. This early, the number of teams that already expressed participation exceeded the organizersí expectation.
In a brief handout ceremony for the sponsorship, Omar reaffirmed Malaysia Airlines’ partnership with ASTEC in the promotion of tennis sports as means of improving camaraderie and physical fitness especially among the expatriates’ community. He expressed confidence in the success of this tournament banking on the professionalism of ASTEC and the successful conclusion of the Malaysia Airlines Team Tennis Classic, the first that the airlines sponsored in 1998. Joining him and also showing support in the meeting were other Malaysia Airlines staff, namely: Shahrunnawi Mohd Salleh - Sales Manager, Ajmi M. Jamil ñ Administration Manager, and Frumencio T. Lim ñ Station Manager.
Co-sponsoring the event are: SDD First Net, Al Zouman Cargo, Swatch Co., and Sports Planet.
On the other hand, ASTEC reorganized its board of officers in preparation for this tournament and to cope with the clamor of associate clubs for improvement in tournament management. All the incumbent officers were one in putting up Cesar Quilenderino as ASTEC chairman for the Year 2002. Other officers unanimously selected by the ASTEC board of officers are: Jun Thomas — vice-chairman for administration, Jun Thomas — vice-chairman for administration, Jojo Casem — vice-chairman for Operation, Rhodel Rina — Tournament Director, Erwin Pangan ñ Secretary, Greg Damaso ñ Treasurer, Efren Rofrigo ñ Auditor, Ajmi Jamil & Pol Fernandez ñ Business Managers, Boy Siquijor ñ Public Relation Officer, Bernie Soguilon & Nick Bacalzo ñ Facility Managers, Noel De Guzman ñ Program Coordinator.
