West Pacific Regional Championships 2014.
Darran Wrighton writes that “The 2014 West Pacific Regional Championships saw the start of a project between the Oceania Tennis Federation and the Fiji Tennis Association that endeavoured to raise the profile and increase the participation in this event. Being the “Regional” championships the courts and the surrounds were in immaculate condition with shade tents between the courts, National Flags in full view of all the players and sponsors banners adorning the fences.
Daily every nation gathered in front of their flags for morning meetings directed by the Tournament Referee, the ITF Pacific Oceania Development Officer. In these meetings players were advised of their obligation to fair play, calling the scores loud and clear and demonstrating good sportsmanship. This was to be the first year that a Nation leaderboard would feature strongly as part of the event, every match now had the added bonus of potentially putting your nation in the lead. The top 4 singles and top 4 doubles results would determine the West Pacifics leading tennis
Nation.
After the morning meeting each Federation would gather and yell their team chant to motivate themselves to play well for their country. With every country having representative t-shirts the days play was certainly a colourful affair. Not only because of the high standard of tennis but it was great to hear so much support from the nations represented in the West. Players from Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Vanuatu , the Solomon Islands and the host Nation Fiji were represented with other 70 players competing.
The first two days saw round robin play to determine entry into the main draw and the play offs for places. From Thursday onwards doubles matches were included in the draw as well as completing the play offs. Saturday was to be finals day with not only finals being played for events but the player playing off for 3rd and 4th place were able to bask in the glow of playing on finals days (this also gave some of the singles finalists a break before their doubles later on in the day.)
After finals all players, parents and coaches gathered in Tennis Fiji’s newest acquisition, a grand marquee that was to be the location for the prize giving and the traditional Fijian“ Lovo” feast prepared for all the players and visitors to enjoy. Prize giving was conducted by representatives Tennis Fiji and the OTF Executive Officer, John Shannon.
This was the first of the OTF/ITF Pacific Oceania Regional Championships for the year with events being played in the North (Guam) in June and the East American Samoa) in August. The players who qualify from these events will then form a regional team that compete in the Pacific flagship junior event – The Pacific Oceania Junior Championships. Not only do these Championships feature individual singles and doubles events but all players compete for their region to win the regional trophy and their country to feature at the top of the leaderboard.
Players winning their age groups in this premier event will have the chance to travel on International Tours funded by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund and some of the younger players may be offered the chance for a scholarship to the ITF Regional Training Centre in Fiji.
Benefits of training at the centre are that players have access to a high performance coaching and fitness program all year round. Players resident at the RTC are entered into all local Fijian tennis events as well as the two ITF Junior World Circuit events. All schooling and accommodation is funded for the players and every player will travel overseas at least once per year funded by the ITF.
A worthwhile prize to the players who wish to take their tennis to the highest level, gain a junior world ranking and perhaps one day graduate from the Centre to take up a tennis scholarship in the USA thus enhancing their career prospects and gaining international tennis exposure.
Results of the Federation Leaderboard
- Vanuatu 660 points
- Solomon Islands 595 points
- Fiji 480 points
- Kiribati 365 points
- PNG 203 points
Individual event results can be found at this link” http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/winners.aspx?id=69493C5C-A1FA-4B9F-9C4F-9C072C8D2098