PETALING JAYA, Feb 26 — Young tennis player S. Darrshan hopes his recent achievements in International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior events will help earn him a place in the SEA Games squad.
The 15-year-old said he was among seven players shortlisted for the SEA Games but only five would be selected to represent the country in the regional games in Cambodia from May 5 to May 17.
After reaching the boys’ singles final of the J30 Singapore ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Championships early this month, Darrshan secured a double-final in the J30 Selangor this weekend, winning the doubles title and finishing runner-up in the singles.
Darrshan now hopes to fare well in the first leg of the National Circuit beginning on March 8, to brighten his chances of making his SEA Games debut.
“I think my name was included in the long list after I did well in the KL Open in October, reaching the semi-finals. Today’s results will definitely help me (earn SEA Games slot),” he said.
“So I really want to do the best in every tournament I play. I want to get into the SEA Games team because I want to feel the exposure,” he told Bernama.
Darrshan partnered Indonesian Aldhito Ramadhan Dwi Kurniawan to clinch the doubles title after beating Chen Xianfeng-Meng Fanming of China 6 – 1, 6 – 0 in the final at the Kelana Jaya Tennis Court yesterday.
However, the fifth seed could not emulate the success in the singles, going down 3 – 6, 4 – 6 against Fanming today.
Darrshan, who started playing tennis at seven years old, is also expected to take part in the higher tier J300 Sarawak event next month.
“My mum Nirmala Krishna and aunt had played at the national level, so I am trying to improve the results to be the best in the family. My family has been giving me huge support for the game,” he said.
— Bernama
