Malaysian tennis tyke Imran wins World Junior Masters title
BY LIM TEIK HUAT
THE STAR
Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli of Malaysia in action at the World Junior Masters tennis tournament in Turkey where he won the Under-10 title on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: Ten-year-old Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli became Malaysia’s first world tennis champion after claiming the boys’ singles Under-10 title at the World Junior Masters tournament in Turkey.
The Kuala Lumpur boy, coached by his father Abdul Hazli Zainuddin, whipped Manvydas Balciunas of Holland 6-0, 6-0 in Sunday’s final in Antalya.
Earlier, Imran beat Tunisia’s Karim Fendri 6-0, 6-1, Scotland’s Hector Edmund Fullone 6-0, 6-0 and Latvia’s Maksims Kazancevs 6-0, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals as Group A winner.
Then in the last four on Saturday, Imran used his booming forehands to beat Omar Knani of Tunisia 6-3, 6-2.
It was Imran’s second international title this year. He was the champion at the Base 11 and under Stars of Tomorrow tennis tournament in Germany on Aug 30.
Abdul Hazli, a former national No. 2, was delighted with his son’s achievement.
“I think Imran has improved tremendously since the last tournament. The upgraded training and fitness programmes for the last two months have brought him to another level,” said the proud father.
Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli of Malaysia in action at the World Junior Masters tennis tournament in Turkey where he won the Under-10 title on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: Ten-year-old Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli became Malaysia’s first world tennis champion after claiming the boys’ singles Under-10 title at the World Junior Masters tournament in Turkey.
The Kuala Lumpur boy, coached by his father Abdul Hazli Zainuddin, whipped Manvydas Balciunas of Holland 6-0, 6-0 in Sunday’s final in Antalya.
Earlier, Imran beat Tunisia’s Karim Fendri 6-0, 6-1, Scotland’s Hector Edmund Fullone 6-0, 6-0 and Latvia’s Maksims Kazancevs 6-0, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals as Group A winner.
Then in the last four on Saturday, Imran used his booming forehands to beat Omar Knani of Tunisia 6-3, 6-2.
It was Imran’s second international title this year. He was the champion at the Base 11 and under Stars of Tomorrow tennis tournament in Germany on Aug 30.
Abdul Hazli, a former national No. 2, was delighted with his son’s achievement.
“I think Imran has improved tremendously since the last tournament. The upgraded training and fitness programmes for the last two months have brought him to another level,” said the proud father.
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