JEDDAH, 7 November 2003 — The Panasonic Junior Tennis Circuit sets off with a schedule of four matches. at Sharbatly Village today. “This is a Ramadan event, organized by Jeddah Tennis Organization (JeTO),” said JeTO board Chairman Serge Taga at the formal opening ceremony of the circuit on Wednesday night.
Sharbatly’s Recreation Coordinator Gary Williams gave the opening speech.
Sixty boys and girls playing at the junior level have been divided into five categories, with singles and doubles matches, according to Roberto Saavedra, a professional coach and chairman of the tournament committee of JeTO said. After declaring the top seeds for the advanced singles, intermediate singles and intermediate doubles categories based on points accumulated from the previous two tournaments, a draw was held to select players for the matches that end with the final on Nov. 21.
“The tournament is part of the JeTO’s program to promote tennis at the grassroots level,” Reggie Sanosa, tournament referee and member of the JeTO board, said.
This is the fourth tournament the JeTO organizes within some months of its establishment. It celebrates its first anniversary on Feb. 27. JeTO organized Osama Shaikh Junior Tennis tournament at Spring Village Compound in May, followed by Panasonic Junior Tennis Circuit at Hiba Compound in June and the Prince Talal Bin Mansour Tennis Cup at Albilad Hotel Tennis Courts in July. Top seeds are: Colin Dektar and Al Ijiran in advanced singles; Mohammed Shaaban, Andre Oligario, Raghav Ramabadran and N. Shaaban in intermediate singles; and Nasri Majdalani-Raghav Ramabadran and Andre Ciganik-Mark Darouni in intermediate doubles.
Today’s schedule: (4.30 p.m.) Tabea Stiegelmer vs Luai Ghazi, Kristian Penafiel vs Laylah Khan; ( 8 p.m.) Mohammed Shaaban vs Christina Isshak, Wael Khafaji vs Mark Darouni; (9 p.m.) Tamer Attar vs Daniel Penton, Tariq Attar vs Sahiti Sreekanth; (10 p.m.) Fredrick Larsson vs Rita Isshak, Omar Arngoudy vs Donnah Toumeh.
The JeTO board also includes Francis Idjao, Algier Reganon, Dr. Ramon Moreno, Jovito Llevares, Elmer Sto Domingo, Roel Consumo and Angelo Quitorio.
