{"id":411753,"date":"2024-07-05T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=411753"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"NMI-junior-netters-notch-wins-in-Fiji","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/NMI-junior-netters-notch-wins-in-Fiji\/","title":{"rendered":"NMI junior netters notch wins in Fiji"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the gold rush by the NMI National Tennis Team in the 10th Micronesian Games, junior netters are gearing up for another big stage\u2014the 2024 Pacific Oceania Junior Championship in Lautoka, Fiji.<\/p>\n

NMI junior netters stormed the courts on Day 1 yesterday, with wins in eight matches in the tournament that features other players from American Samoa, Vanuatu, Guam, Samoa, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and the Federated States of Micronesia.<\/p>\n

Hoo Wang\u2014who bagged gold in the women\u2019s doubles with Isabel Heras and in the team matches during the Micro Games in the Marshall Islands just over a week ago\u2014came into this tourney with momentum that propelled her to her first win.<\/p>\n

She won over Solomon Islands\u2019 Margaret Agi Lewa in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy comeback tactic was just to have fun in the second set. I have learned a lot from the Micro Games to just have fun in my matches and to always stay positive. I\u2019m very happy with my win and I\u2019m looking forward to play some more good tennis in the following weeks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The next win for NMI was by Si Woo Lee\u2014also a gold medalist in the Micro Games. He bested Bing Low from Fiji, 6-4, 6-2.<\/p>\n

Then, June Yu won two matches. He first crushed Fiji\u2019s Tyrone Speed, 6-0, 6-1, then defeated Samoa\u2019s Darius Carruthers, 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n

La Hunn Lam then took on teammate Henry Choi and won, 6-0, 6-1; Ryan Choi put up a good fight in three sets against Vanuatu\u2019s Gabriele Wong, 6-4, 0-6, 10-6; Anne Lee overpowered Fiji\u2019s Elizabeth Qaqaturagu, 6-1, 6-0; and Nason Wessel trounced Fiji\u2019s Deevansh Singh, 6-0, 6-4.<\/p>\n

In NMI\u2019s age 16 roster are Lam, Wessel, Siwoo, Henry, Yu, Wang, Irin Chung, and Hannah Chae. The aged 14 group includes Ryan, Ian Chae, and Anne; the aged 12 group consists of Michael Jeon, Daniel Kang, Matt Zhu, Stella Choi, Emma Lang, and Selina Chi.<\/p>\n

In the age 14 results, Ryan Choi defeated Vanauty\u2019s Gabriele Wong, 4-6, 6-0, while Ian and Hannah Chae and Irin Chung lost their debuts.<\/p>\n

Ian Chae lost to Tahiti\u2019s Guilhem Pendu, 1-6, 0-6; Chung was downed by Guam\u2019s Leila Mercado, 6-7, 1-6; and Hannah Chae dropped 0-6, 1-6 loss against Tahitu\u2019s Mia Chang Yuk Shan.<\/p>\n

In the age 12 results, assistant coach Colin Ramsey provided an update.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 12s girls cruised to a win today. Stella took her singles 6-1 6-1 and Emma followed with a 6-2 6-2 win. The boys had a tougher route, losing both singles matches. Michael lost the first set 1-6 and fought back to win the second set 6-3. A close super tiebreak that went the way of George from Fiji 8-10. Matt Zhu played in the No. 2 singles today and lost a close 5-7, 3-6 match to the second ranked Fiji 12\u2019s player,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Head coach Jeff Race, in an interview yesterday about how the team was settling in, said that they had issues on their first night as the Airbnb that they booked turned out not to be available. Fortunately, they found another apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur players are staying in three different locations so logistics are difficult. But we had two days and nights to recover from travel and we are having a pretty successful first day today (yesterday),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As for the courts and conditions, he said, \u201cThe courts here are not great but okay. Unfortunately, our 12s teams are competing about 20 miles away at the Nadi Sports Club. Colin Ramsey is there with the 12s and doing a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked how he\u2019s feeling about the players; performance ahead of their first games, he said, \u201cOf our Micro Games players Hoo Wang had a good performance today and appears to have improved her mental game in Majuro.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tourney runs until Friday, July 12.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

NMI junior netters pose for a photo with head coach Jeff Race, far right, and assistant coach Colin Ramsey, back left, during the 2024 Pacific Oceania Junior Championship in Lautoka, Fiji that started yesterday.<\/p>\n

-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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