* Nurshaneem grabs two titles in Girls’ Under-16
Nurshaneem Imann Samsudin was the toast of Sabahas as she walked away with two titles in the Girls’ Under-16 category in the 7th leg of the National Junior Tennis Circuit which ended in Likas, Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.
In the singles final Nurshaneem outclassed top seed and hot favourite Nur Hazira Hamidon of Negri Sembilan with a 6-1, 6-2 win – her second singles title in the tour. Her first was in Langkawi last year.
Nurshaneem later teamed up with Khadijah Latfy from Kuala Lumpur to win the doubles title – defeating the Nazri twins – Ezatul Syahirah and Ezatul Syafiqah of Selangor 6-3, 6-4.
All in all Nurshaneem has collected four titles from the tour since last year- two in the singles and two in the doubles in the Under-16 category.
Another Sabah player Clarissa Sofia was beaten in the Girls’ Under-12 singles final when she lost 6-3, 6-1 to Negri Sembilan’s 6-3, 6-1 to Negeri Sembilan’s Nur Ain Nadhirah Adnan.
The only other player to clinch a double in Likas was Daryl Wong of Kuala Lumpur in the Boys’ Under-12 category.
Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur won the major share of titles. Some 100 over tennis players from all over the country took part in the Sabah-leg of the tour.
The next stop for the tour is Kuala Terengganu.
Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan the Sabah sports minister gave away the prestigious prizes to the winners. He called on the juniors to produce a world ranked tennis player from Malaysia.
At present Malaysia have one player ranked number one in Asia from Sabah – Christian Chin who is ranked No 1 in the Under-14 category under ATF ranking list. Tawfik the juniors can follow Christian’s achievement.
Christian Chin is currently in India participating in the ITF circuit under LTAM/MSN sponsorship.
Results:
BOYS – Singles
Under-10:
Mohd Zhahin Ielyas (KL) beat Thoybah Mohd Rahizam (Sel) 4-2, 4-2.
Under-12:
Daryl Wong (KL )beat Airulraif Airilazhar (Joh) 6-0,6-2
Under-14:
Lahan Nair (Sel) beat Mohd Syabil Shaharudin (Sel) 6-7, 6-2, 7-6.
Under-16:
Lui Hui Retallic (KL) beat Mohd Irfan Abd Halim (Joh) 7-5, 6-4.
GIRLS – Singles
Under-10:
Iman Syuhada Abdullah (NS) beat Hanis S Fairus (Ked) 4-0, 4-0.
Under-12:
Nur Ain Nadhirah Adnan (NS) beat Clarissa Sofia (Sab) 6-3, 6-1.
Under-14:
Nur Aniess Kamil (Ked) beat Jodie Luo (KL) 6-1, 6-0
Under-16:
Nurshaneem Samsudin (Sab) beat Nur Hazira Hamidon (NS) 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles Champions
Boys
Under-10
Thoybah Rahizam – Zhahin Ielyas. (Sel/KL)
Under-12
Daryl Wong & Hayden Khoo (Sel-KL)
Under-14
Irzad Syazurin – Faris Rashid (Ter/Per)
Under-16
Azri Ramlee -Irfan Halim (Joh)
Girls
Under-12
Iman Syhuda – Athilla Miasara (NS/KL)
Under-16
Nurshaneem-Khadijah Latfy (Sab-KL)
