Last week, a "Stars of Tomorrow" quartet competing in the JB Group Classic 2009, plus four of Hong Kong's top players, joined local philanthropists and tennis aficionados in a Pro-Am tournament. Including proceeds from last month's HKTF 20th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner and Raffle Ticket Sale, a sum of close to half a million dollars was raised for junior tennis development.
Michelle Larcher de Brito, Alexandra Panova, Zhang Ling, and reigning US Open Junior Champion, Coco Vandeweghe, joined in with the fundraising effort by taking part in the Pro-Am at Victoria Park.
Hong Kong's Yu Hiu Tung, Goran Bosalevski, Jessica Yang, and Sher Chun Wing also made their presence felt.
The Am Players
Dr. Stanley Ho, Mr. Kenneth Wong, Mr. Michael Lam, Prof. Frank Fu, Mr. James Riley, Dr. Phillip Kwok, Mr. Ernest Chiu, Mr. Henry Chan, and Mr. Jeremy Pong
The Pro Players
Coco Vandeweghe, Michelle Larcher de Brito, Alexandra Panova, Zhang Ling, Yu Hiu Tung, Goran Bosalevski, Sher Chun Wing, and Jessica Yang
After eight rounds of matches, with each Am player getting the opportunity to face a different Pro player each time out, the results were as follows:
| Am Players |
|
Pro Players |
|
| Winner |
Mr. Henry Chan |
Winner |
Jessica Yang Zi-jun |
| 1st Runner-Up |
Prof. Frank Fu |
1st Runner-Up |
Zhang Ling |
| 2nd Runner-Up |
Mr. Michael Lam |
2nd Runner-Up |
Sher Chun Wing |
| 3rd Runner-Up |
Mr. Kenneth Wong |
3rd Runner-Up |
Coco Vandeweghe |
Established in 1988, the aim of the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation is to promote and develop tennis in Hong Kong with the ultimate goal of raising the standards to match those found elsewhere in the world.
Its objectives, firstly, are to provide financial assistance to programmes that will develop the standards of tennis in Hong Kong, for example, through Mini Tennis and various primary and secondary schools initiatives to broaden the participation base of tennis-playing youngsters.
Secondly, the HKTF also helps finance the staging of local tournaments and extends financial assistance to top players to attend international events.
Be it towards instigating school and grassroots participation locally, or enhancing overseas competitive opportunities for elite juniors, funds raised today would undoubtedly increase opportunities available for the next generation of tennis playing youngsters.
At the end of it all, funds raised from both the HKTF 20th Anniversary Raffle Tickets Sale and Fundraising Dinner, plus the Tennis Pro-Am, tallied close to HK$500,000 for junior tennis development here in the territory.
Photos from the Fundraising Dinner
About the HKTF
In April 1988, a group of tennis enthusiasts dedicated to furthering the cause of tennis here in the territory got together to form the Hong Kong Tennis Foundation (HKTF). Former Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, first chaired this influential body. The current Chairman is Dr. Philip Kwok, who was also the Immediate Past President of the HKTA.
The General Manager, who also assumes the same responsibilities for the HKTA, handles the day-to-day operation of the Foundation.
The HKTF meets, on average, once every two months, with the main agenda pertaining to the financial support of junior tennis development in Hong Kong. The first meeting of the HKTF was held on January 25, 1989. Up until October 2007, a total of 107 Executive Council meetings had taken place.
Over the years, the HKTF had received, at one time or another, financial support from the Hong Kong government, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, and the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association (organizers of the Marlboro Championships and the Watsons Water Champions Challenge).
The HKTF also raises fund annually via a raffle ticket sale, and at times, by way of a Tennis Pro-Am Challenge. These fund-raising events have become a time-honoured part of the Hong Kong tennis calendar and a great deal of support is contributed from the local business community, tennis players, coaches, and clubs, as well as councils from the HKTF and HKTA.
If you are interested in finding more about junior tennis development or would like to make donations towards junior tennis development, please don't hesitate to contact Miss Bianca Luk on 2504 8275 or email her bianca@tennishk.org.
Acknowledgement:
All the players
K-Swiss
The Hong Kong Sports Photography Association
The Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association