BSS, Rajshahi :A weeklong Rajshahi International Junior Tennis Championship 2014 (U-18) began at Zafar Imam Tennis Complex (ZITC) here last afternoon. Some 83 players including 24 girls from 23 countries including the host Bangladesh are taking part in the tournament being organised with assistances from Bangladesh Tennis Federation besides getting approval from International Tennis Federation (ITF). Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed, DIGP of Rajshahi range Iqbal Bahar, RMP Commissioner Barrister Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury and ZITC General Secretary Mustaque Ahmed were present, among others, at the inaugural session. Mustaque Ahmed said 34 highest ITF ranking players will play in the main draw directly while eight from the qualifying round and six will come after getting wild card. The major participating countries are: Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, the United States of America, Honk Kong, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Iceland and Dominican Republic. Matches of the main draw will be held from November 13 without any break after completion of the qualifying round matches scheduled to be held on November 11 and 12. Mustaque Ahmed said a budget of Taka 15 lakh has been earmarked for successful holding of the tournament. He, however, lamented that no sponsor was available for the tournament. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP, and Mayor of Rajshahi Musaddeque Hossain Bulbul are likely to attend the closing session as chief guest and special guests respectively on November 16.
