Two young Chonburi based tennis players booked berths at the finals of the 7th Chang Lawn Tennis Skills Development Tournament after beating Bangkok-area opponents at the Central Region semifinals held in Pattaya.
Kenthkan Ngamson defeated Leo Withuthien of Bangkok 6-2, 6-1 in the boys 17-18 age bracket and Panthita Sakulmalaithong beat Nitchakan Pattanakas of Samut Prakan in the girls 11-12 age group by a score of 5-3, 5-3, in the qualifier held at the Pattaya Inter Tennis Club in Nongprue.
Kenthkan Ngamson (center) poses for a photo with his parents after winning the mens singles U 18 qualifier in Pattaya.
Jirasak Saksansin, a senior manager of TOT’s Pattaya office, handed out trophies to the boys and girls in age brackets ranging from 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18 years old. The Sept. 14-16 tournament was operated by the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand with the aim of building sports skills among Thai youths.
Jirasak Saksansin (left), Senior Manager of TOT Pattaya, presents an award to Manita Bussarakhomvisit, the winner of the female single U 18 title.
“I believe that after children have been steered to the first step, there has to be additional levels of competition for them to experience to enable them to develop into international standard sportsmen and women,” said tournament manager Chantra Thongbooncharoen.
The winners will now go on to participate in the Lawn Tennis Master’s round to be held in November in Bangkok.
Kenthkan Ngamson hits a return to Leo Withuthien in the men’s U 18 final.
In the other age brackets, Wissarut Anuwongworawet of Chacherngsao won the boys 13-16 group by besting Itch Meesommont of Bangkok in the first set 6-2 and Itch forfeiting the second set.
Chathaburi’s Chaniporn Saisa-ad beat Ranchida Na Nakhorn from Samut Prakan in the girls 13-16 bracket 6-2, 6-2 while her neighbor Kamolchanok Saiweaw lost to Bangkok’s Samcha Aurungroj in the girls under-8 category.
All other brackets were contested by youths from outside the Chonburi region.
The junior players take a group photo with tournament sponsors at the conclusion of the event.
