Amid a change of venue for the first time, the eagerly anticipated TG 2006-07 End-of-Season Party was still the happening place to be last week. Hosted by departing resident MC, Whi Kim, the highlight of the evening was of course the announcement of the respective winners of the annual NTS-TG Awards and photo-ops aplenty for everyone else.
[TG Award Winners]
On hand to preside over the TG Lucky Draw was special guest Ms. Tequila Tse, Manager of Chickeeduck's, who once again sponsored our fabulous TG shirts this past season. Also making her presence felt was HKTA General Manager, Mrs. Janet Hardisty, who said some very encouraging words to round off the season in the absence of Vice President and Elite Committee Chairman, Mr. Henry Chan, who unfortunately was out of town.
Mrs. Hardisty also thanked all the coaches who had been a part of the TG set-up this year, and then took the opportunity to welcome two new additions to the HKTA coaching team – Australians Nathan Booth (TG) and Ray Kelly (Director of Coaching & Development).
Meanwhile, over in Austin, Texas, one racquet-wielding youngster from TG, Abigail Chiu, has just recently captured the USTA-sanctioned SPENCO ATA Summer Open Girls' 12U singles title. Abigail, though unseeded, defeated the tournament's No. 1 seed, Carlin Knezevich, in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-3, but then gave up the opening set in the final before posting a come-from-behind, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2, victory over Molly Fisher, who had earlier upset No. 2 seed, TamiJean Fumagalli.
Last summer, Abigail, then aged eight, also triumphed in Texas where she won the Lost Creek Open when she beat the top two seeds en route to capturing the Girls' 10U singles title. Judging by this pattern of year-on-year logical progression, perhaps she will go on to win a Girls' 14U title somewhere in Texas next year also.
Related story: Tennis with the Talent Group – Meet Abigail Chiu (28 Aug 2006)
Postscript: For good measure, Abigail then added the Girls' 10 and 12U titles at her next tournament, the CATA "Gran Prix" Junior Tour - Circle C Slam, a non-sanctioned event. In the Girls' 12U final, she defeated No. 1 seed Paige Johnson in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
* Nathan Booth is a Level 2 Advanced tennis coach from Australia. He comes to Hong Kong after running a successful Tennis coaching business in Queensland, Australia, and just recently coached at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in Texas USA. Nathan worked with a number of teams in Australia that reached the State finals of the National Teams Tennis and also travelled and coached a number of highly ranked juniors while at the Newcombe Tennis Ranch. As a junior player Nathan reached the top 10 in Queensland and number 1 in his region for a number of years. After training and playing at a high level Nathan now enjoys and is very enthusiastic about coaching and improving junior tennis wherever he goes.
For a glimpse of Ray's credentials, see story:
Ray Kelly to join HKTA as Director of Coaching & Development (22 Jun 2007)