‘Dunlop’ represented by Ralhum Sports Agents for Dunlop tennis equipment in Sri Lanka, once again rose to help the game of tennis in Sri Lanka by linking up with SLTA to conduct an “All Island talent search program” called “Dunlop tennis Star of the future” in order to scout for talented tennis players and unleash the potential in them
With this objective an agreement was signed recently between Ralhum Sports and SLTA in the presence of official and all regional coaches.
The program will see fresh students who have not played tennis at all being invited to take part in the orientation program to be held in each region The participants will be from the age of 7 upwards and will be able to analysis their skills under the guidance of the regional coaches and coordinator. If they like the sport they will be introduced to the “Dunlop tennis academy” which is being expected to be launched in all the regions. This academy will conduct coaching programs throughout the year and Dunlop will be supporting with the tennis equipment and other logistics
On completion of continuous training for about nine months, each region will conduct its own tournament and select the winner and runner up who will participate in the ‘Grand Finale’ at the end of the year in Colombo.
Dunlop will also pick one regional star from each region and sponsor this talented star. The grand star will be crowned at the Grand finale as the “Dunlop Star of the year”.
Mr. Ravi Perera , Chairman Outstation Development of the SLTA commenting on the program said that he was thrilled with the programme and this will help to unearth good players for the future and can look forward to tennis being spread out and improved. He thanked Dunlop and Ralhum sports for coming forward in sponsoring. Mr.Vipul Perera, Director of the Program, commented that he has conducted a similar Talent Search program in Matale whilst he was the President of Matale Tennis club 7 years ago and this program is designed based on that and hope to promote Tennis in the outstation with this program in joining hand with Dunlop and Ralhum sports .
Mr M.M.Mohamed Managing Director of Ralhum sports thanked the SLTA for giving the opportunity to come forward with this concept and positive that this will reap rewards in producing better tennis players. He also mentioned that Dunlop has always been in the forefront of helping Tennis in Sri Lanka and was always linked to SLTA in all its programs with the Dunlop ball being the official ball of Sri Lanka tennis. It has also helped deserving and talented players with appropriate sponsorship and happy to mention that Dineshkanthan Thangarajah, the Sri Lanka’s No 1 ranked player was the first recipient of such a sponsorship. Dunlop also proudly sponsoring presently, D M Gamini the world ranked wheel chair tennis champion.
‘Dunlop’ is also the official ball for Sri Lanka National Tennis Championship.
