Tennis News of Saturday, 2 March 2013

Source: sammy heywood okine /www.sportsinghana.com

Interplast commits ¢162,000 to revive Ghana Tennis

Interplast Ghana Limited has committed itself to supporting the Ghana Tennis Association on a three year deal to the tune of one hundred and sixty two thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢162,000). The 3-year contract will see Interplast pay an amount of GH¢54,000 every year for the organisation of the Associations Masters Series even which would be competed for by 16 of the nation’s top players.

To qualify for the prestigious event though, players who are interested are set to go through a qualification process to be held in Accra and Kumasi.

The event to be held in the Garden City would be staged from the 12 to 16 March whilst the 2nd qualification process will take place at the Accra Lawn Tennis Club from the 19 to March 23.

The final event which will see the top 16 players do battle at the Accra Sports Stadium will take place from the 2 to April 6, 2013. The programme was graced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and also had present, top tennis stars of yesteryears including Grand Master Peter Annan, Acting National Sports Authority boss Madam Attipoe, Mr. Enoch Amartey and Hon. Sam Pee Yalley, Vice President and President of the Ghana Tennis Association respectively.

In an address, the new Sports Minister pledged his support for the Association and also promised to do everything in his capacity to see to the growth of the sport in the country.

“I am going to be a minister of every sport and make sure that every sporting discipline gets its share of the national cake. It is unfortunate that most of our sporting disciplines have been slighted over the years to the detriment of these associations and I am bent on making sure that all sporting disciplines are given the attention they deserve since the nation will be the ultimate beneficiaries,” Hon. Afriyie Ankrah said.

On his part, CEO of Interplast Ghana Limited, Arthur Huberts said the company is honoured to be associated with the sport and would be looking forward to a long lasting partnership. For him, tennis is an exciting sport that could ultimately enhance a lot of sporting potentials in this country.

He pledged his outfit’s continuous support for the sport and looked forward to a keen Masters Competition. The winner of the final event will take home a whopping GH¢10,000 (ten Thousand Ghana Cedis) as prize money along with a trophy.