Tennis Cambodia exercised its voting rights for the first time since becoming a Class B Member of the International Tennis Federation in 2011 at the World Governing Body’s Annual General Meeting last Friday in the Chilean capital Santiago, where David Haggerty was elected as the new ITF president to serve a four year term.

The 58-year-old Haggerty from the United States succeeded Francesco Ricci Bitti who had been the head of the ITF for the last 16 years and has now been named an honorary life president.

Haggerty was elected on the second ballot with 200 votes over India’s Anil Khanna with 192 votes. Rene Stammbach of Switzerland and Juan Margets of Spain were eliminated on the first ballot.

With Tennis Cambodia’s secretary-general Tep Rithivit and technical director Braen Aneiros tied up with their prior commitments, the federation deputed finance executive Ek Bun Leakhana as the Kingdom’s representative at the AGM, which was attended by over 280 delegates, partners and staff at the Santiago Marriott Hotel. At the start of her visit, Bun Leakhana also attended the 2016 official draw ceremony of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

“It was a great privilege to represent Tennis Cambodia in such an exalted company. I have made memories for life in this trip, and I am thankful to the federation for giving me this wonderful opportunity” Bun Leakhana told the Post yesterday.

Meanwhile, the AGM approved an increase in size of the board of directors from 13 plus the president to 15 plus the president to include athlete representation. The additional two athlete members will be appointed by the elected members of the board and ratification will be required at the following AGM.

The assembly also approved a series of regulation changes and clarifications for the ITF’s international team competitions, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. This includes the introduction of fifth set tiebreaks in Davis Cup effective from the start of the 2016 competition.

Kosovo has become a member of the ITF for the first time after a successful application for Class B membership. There was also an increase in Class B shares for Poland and Turkey while Two Class C members, Nauru and St Vincent & The Grenadines, have been suspended.