by Alifah Zainuddin, BENL, IRHKS
Exciting new talents have been spotted at last weekends IIUM Closed Tennis Tournament. The 2-day event hosted some impressive matchups that saw first-year student, Nur Ameela Najwa Abdul Jamil storm into the Ladies Singles finals before her 8-4 defeat to postgraduate student, sister Erlina Nadiawati Kassim.
In the Men Singles event, final year Economics student Surkhan Saylikhanov easily defeated his opponents before falling to brother Muhd Naim Madjid in the finals. A number of CFS students also participated in the tournament. Included in the list was sister Norhazwani Sharnuddin who played in the Quarterfinals of the Ladies Singles category.
The tournament was held simultaneously at both Male and Female Sports Complexes to facilitate the 32 draw size. It is the second tennis competition organised by the Tennis Skill 2 class with the first taking place on the 19th and 20th of April.
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The IIUM Closed Tennis Tournament however is open to only non-varsity players.
Tournament Director, brother Azman Kassim, stated that the tournament aims to give an opportunity to new players to experience competitive tennis. It is hoped that with this avenue, players will be more drawn to compete and to play for IIUM during the course of their studies here.
Azman further expressed his happiness to see many new talents participating in this semesters tournament. The future of the IIUM Tennis Team looks promising, he said.
The tournament is part of the Tennis Skill 2 course project which was carried out under the guide of coach Muhammad Khairullah Dzulkapli.