Promoting cultural exchange through tennis

(From the Manila Bulletin - author unknown)

It’s a given that tennis is a competitive sport, but there’s always an opportunity to enjoy other things like friendships and cultural exchange, as proven in the recent MILO International Junior Tennis Cup.

Over 200 junior tennis players from various countries took part in the highly-successful tournament that was held at the Philam Tennis Courts in Quezon City. Now on its 19th year, the annual event is renowned for developing the skills of promising junior tennis players and fostering an exchange of cultures.

"We’re pleased that MILO International Junior Tennis Cup continues to attract some of the world’s best junior players. It is definitely an excellent platform for young tennis players to not only develop their game, but also to enjoy friendships that are beyond borders," says MILO sports events executive Pat Goc-ong.

The tournament, which showcased junior tennis at its finest, featured singles and doubles competitions for both boys and girls in the following categories: 18 under, 16 under, 14 under, 12 under and unisex 10 under. The Japanese players, who dominated the field, are actually part of the exchange athletes program and are in the Philippines for joint training and sharing of techniques with their Filipino counterparts.

Amidst the intensity of every forehand, backhand and serve, friendships and goodwill were still evident and enjoyed throughout the tournament as participants mingled with one another in between matches. Most importantly, the goal of building character through sports was not lost on the parents.

Charles and Eleanor Cheng from Malaysia say they are glad that their children Oscar, Jane and Augustine are into tennis as it teaches them the value of discipline and the benefits of having a healthy body. Moreover, the Chengs say that traveling to different places lets their children experience various customs of other people, which is a boost to their overall development.

For Buboy and Pia Balce, tennis has helped their son Mark become a more well-rounded person. An athletic scholar in Ateneo, Mark’s tennis career has taken him to many places around the world as he competes for titles. His parents say that this has taught Mark to gain an appreciation of other people’s cultures and to be responsible and independent.

Finally for Juvy Talatuyod, the decision to introduce Dheo to tennis proved to be wise. Dheo is now one of the promising athletes of MILO Junior Tennis, having been part of the victorious Philippine squad that won the title in last year’s Putra International Junior Tennis Championships in Malaysia. Dheo’s travels abroad instilled in him the importance of being disciplined and how to prioritize matters, aside of course from the fact that he now knows a thing or two about Malaysia and its people.

Gracing the one-day affair were Philippine Tennis Association president Luis Mendoza, Diana Barcelona of the Junior Tennis Association of the Philippines, Tatsuo Sakamoto and Teiji Kimura of Hyogo Tennis Association, MILO Tennis director Jovy Mamawal and MILO Tennis coach Eloi Pornobe, Sr.

Thanks to tennis and tournaments like the MILO International Junior Tennis Cup, today’s youth have a great opportunity to become better individuals by allowing them to learn a lot about the people they meet and the places that they visit, as they pursue their dreams of becoming world-class champions.

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