THE annual Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Open tennis competition that is organised by the Guyana Tennis Association (GLTA) is set to start July 12 at the Bank’s Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park. The event, which is the marquee tournament on the GLTA’s calendar attracting over 120 entrants last year, will run for two weeks with matches being scheduled on the weekends from 17:00hrs daily at the club’s courts.
In the main categories last year, Anthony Downes captured the Men’s title from Jeremy Miller whilst Aruna Ramrattan carted off the Ladies’ category. This year’s tournament will kick off with an opening ceremony on Thursday July 12.
Tennis players are asked to submit entrance forms, which are available at the GBTI Courts, clubs and coaches, by July 9 to coordinators of the tournament Andre Lopes, Shelly Ramdyhan or Jeremy Miller.
According to GBTI’s Customer Care and Business Development Officer Mrs Roma Narayan-Singh, the Bank is committed to supporting tennis development and the GLTA is ensuring that the game is played at all levels and she looks forward to another successful tournament.
New president of the GTA, Ramesh Seebarran, who collected the sponsorship cheque thanked the bank for its continued support and assured management that the GBTI’s tournament is very important in the association’s calendar of events.
Many players look forward to this tournament and it allows the juniors to get in shape for their upcoming international tours. The contesting categories are as follows: Boys’ and Girls’ U-16 Singles, Men’s and Ladies’ Open Singles, Men’s 35 and Over Singles, Men’s and Ladies’ Doubles, Men’s 45 and Over Doubles, Mixed Open Doubles and Novice Medley.
In the Novices category, the format will be a best of three super tie-break sets and matches will be played with the ITF green ball.