Record entries for Junior Nationals

TENNIS: The 2007 Sri Lanka Junior National Tennis championship, to be held from July 30-August 12 on the new SLTA hard courts, has attracted a large number of entries.

The increasingly popular event is sponsored by ABC Insurance for the third successive year.

"With over 225 entries received for 14 events, about 500 matches are scheduled to be played over a fortnight," said Lionel Almeida, CEO of SLTA.

The tournament will feature five age groups Singles events each for Boys and Girls, from under 10 to under 18.

The Doubles, however, will be restricted to under 14 and 16, Boys and Girls. The entries have been exceptionally large for the under 14 and 16 Boys singles events, compelling organisers to hold qualifying rounds in these two categories.

It will be the first Junior Nationals to be played on hard courts, laid out earlier this year at a cost of Rs. 15 million. "With unpredictable weather conditions prevailing in August we're obviously glad that the hard courts are available for the event.

With so many matches to be played, we don't want any rain interruptions creating backlogs - which would've been the case were the surface clay," said Almeida.