By Emily Ruran
KUCHING, July 30: The 3rd PTBS Invitational Tennis Classic (PITC) 2026 reflects Sarawak Bumiputera Tennis Association (PTBS) longstanding commitment to nurturing tennis development in Sarawak by providing a competitive platform for players to continue pursuing the sport while inspiring younger generations to embrace the game.
The four-day tournament, scheduled from Aug 6 to 9, will bring together about 200 athletes from 14 teams in Malaysia and abroad, competing for a total prize purse of RM17,000.
Organised by PTBS, the tournament will be held at the PTBS Tennis Court and Sarawak Golf Club’s tennis court, featuring participants from Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the tournament represented PTBS’ continued efforts to strengthen the tennis ecosystem in Sarawak while creating opportunities for players to remain active in competitive sport.
“The tournament is more than just a competition. It provides a meaningful platform for experienced players to continue competing while inspiring younger generations through their sportsmanship, discipline and lifelong passion for the game,” he said during a press conference at the ministry’s meeting room in Baitulmakmur Building 2 here today.
Abdul Karim said the tournament also served as a tribute to the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Muhammad Nor, whose dedication and leadership had played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for tennis development in Sarawak.
“His enduring contribution reminds us that true sporting excellence is built not only through competition, but also through mentorship, continuity and the passing of values from one generation to another,” he said.
The tournament will feature four doubles categories: Men’s Doubles (30+ & 40+), Men’s Doubles (45+ & 55+), Men’s Doubles (56+ & 60+), and Mixed Doubles (40+ & 50+).
Teams will compete for a total prize purse of RM17,000, with RM6,000 awarded to the champions.
Abdul Karim said the strong participation from within and outside Sarawak demonstrated the growing appeal of the tournament and reflected the continued progress of tennis development in the State.
“We cannot organise tournaments only for the international stage and forget about our own backyard.
“Competitions like this allow tennis enthusiasts to come together, gauge their abilities against other players and continue improving while contributing to the growth of the sport,” he said.
He added that the Sarawak government would continue supporting sports associations in organising tournaments at the State, regional and international levels to encourage greater participation and strengthen the Sarawak’s sporting ecosystem.
Abdul Karim also expressed hope that the PTBS Invitational Tennis Classic would continue to expand in the coming years and help produce more local players capable of representing Sarawak at higher levels of competition. — DayakDaily
