Kota Kinabalu grabbed the Sabah Chief Minister’s Trophy as overall champions by winning the juniors, women’s and men’s titles in the Sabah inter-affiliates tennis championships which ended in Sandakan on Sunday.
Lahad Datu, however, put a dent in KK’s pride by winning the Sabah Tennis Association president’s trophy for the veterans category with the help of former state players Avelino Latoja and Charles Belen in their team.
Sandakan veterans must blame themselves for the defeat in the veterans category as their first doubles pair B.M. Chin-Nik Rahimy were leading 7-4 and 8-7 with match point but their defensive play cost them the match.
The men’s team from KK were far too strong as Christian Didier Chin and Stefan Walter Alex went on to win their matches for the Sabah Sports Minister’s Trophy.
It was a touch and go affair in the women’s category for the Sabah Tourism Minister’s Trophy.
Newcomers Kota Belud and Semporna gave a good account of themselves in their debut against the seasoned campaigners while Kudat came with a team of mixed imports. Earlier KK had won the Ajit Mannan Trophy for juniors.
Incumbent Karamunting YB Datuk Charles O Pang presented the prizes to the winners witnessed by Sandakan District Tennis Association president Fernando Rulloda, SabahTennis Association president Johnson Koh, STA vice president Christopher Lim and Lahad Datu president Robert Tham.
