PHINMA relaunches Junior ITF tournaments after pandemic
PHINMA Corporation has brought back its international tennis tournament for Filipino and foreign junior players this 2024 after a years-long hiatus since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Group reaffirms its commitment to making lives better, this time through investing in youth development in sports.
The J30 PHINMA International Junior Tennis Championships 2024 marks the country’s first International Tennis Federation (ITF)-recognized tournament for players 18 & Under since the pandemic’s onset. It runs from July 14-21 and July 21-28 at the Manila Polo Club Upper Tennis Courts, with awarding ceremonies to be held for the winners of the two weeks on July 21 and July 28 from 3:30PM onwards.
The event, supported by the Philippine Tennis Academy, will have local and international players vying for the 16th PHINMA title. The Main Draw will be a 32-draw for both Boys and Girls categories with four Qualifiers moving up into the Main Draw. The Qualifying Draw is also a 32-draw.
PHINMA Chairman Emeritus Oscar J. Hilado, with Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA), believes in making lives better particularly for underprivileged, outstanding Filipino youth in tennis by providing them exposure to foreign competitors and experience in competing in international tournaments. An avid player and fan of the sport since his youth, Mr. Hilado has invested in Philippine tennis through the decades on both a personal and a corporate executive level as he firmly believes in the sport being a means to improve the lives of young, less privileged players.
Sharing Mr. Hilado’s commitment, the PTA believes in giving local juniors an opportunity to participate in an international event here at home. With securing resources for international tournaments abroad a challenge already in itself, the Academy views playing in events held in the Philippines will open the doors for young Filipino tennis players and significantly boost their athletic careers.
Previous winners of the PHINMA-sponsored tournament include Alex Eala,Nino Alcantara, Bryan Otico, Iggy Pantino, and Khim Iglupas.
PHINMA and PTA look forward to the successful conduct of this event, also backed by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), in the hopes of drumming up further interest and support in Philippine tennis by boosting the competitiveness and visibility of the country’s junior players.