By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 15: Sarawak’s stature as a global sporting destination has been reaffirmed as the State prepares to host the 42nd Premier Sarawak Cup — a Grade 1 tournament under the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour Juniors J300 (J1) series — from April 20 to 27, 2025, in Kuching, drawing young tennis talents from 20 countries.
Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described the event as a testament to the State’s growing capacity to host international-standard tournaments, highlighting the prestige associated with the J300 (J1) status — just a tier below the junior Grand Slams and Grade A events.
“To host a J300 event is not just a mark of prestige but also a recognition of Sarawak’s capability to meet international standards in terms of infrastructure, organisation, and hospitality,” he said during a press conference on the 42nd Premier Sarawak Cup ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J300 (J1) at Baitul Makmur II Building in Petra Jaya here today.
This year’s edition welcomes 138 young players — 73 boys and 65 girls — from countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, India, Japan, the United States, and Malaysia, accompanied by coaches and families.
Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) for their exemplary organisation and consistent role in elevating Sarawak’s standing within the ITF community.
He also called on the media to go beyond scoreboards and highlight the athletes’ stories of ‘determination, resilience, and sportsmanship’, noting the power of public recognition in inspiring the next generation of athletes.
“For many of these players, especially our local and national juniors, seeing their names and faces in the newspaper, online portals, or evening news can be life-changing,” he said.
To international visitors, Abdul Karim extended a warm invitation to explore Sarawak’s diverse offerings in culture, cuisine, and ecotourism, while wishing all players a successful and memorable tournament.
Also present at the press conference were SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew and other officials. — DayakDaily
