Cambodia’s Delton Kim and Chheang Vannasak fell one step short of qualifying for the main draw of the ITF Junior (Grade 5) event in Vietnam on Sunday after being beaten in the second round of the qualifiers.

With rain interruptions pushing back the match from 10am in the morning to late evening, Delton went down fighting in three sets to Taipei’s Su Yu Hsiang 4-6, 6-3,6-4.

Meanwhile, Chheang Vannasak’s clash with Kan Tik Long of Hong Kong was rescheduled for to Sunday morning from Saturday night.

Though the Cambodian youngster showed some promise in the first set, Tik Long proved too hot to handle, the Hong Kong player eventually winning 6-4, 6-2.

Team Cambodia is hoping for a better run in next week’s similar event at Danang where both Delton Kim and Vannasak will figure in the qualifying round.

Earlier in the first round, Vannasak got past India’s Gaurav Reddy Gunupati 6-2 6-2. Sak facing a tall and lanky junior like himself, was just the much better player on the day, cutting down on unforced errors and serving well on top of that.

Delton Kim defeated Hoang Hung Vo of Vietnam 6-2 3-6 6-3. In a match of ups and downs, Delton Kim needed three sets to down Hung Vo 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

ITF Level I coaching course

The 12-day ITF Level I course for coaches began on Sunday as participants from nine countries, including Cambodia’s Phalkun Mam and Long Chumnith (pictured coaching a beginner, photo supplied), familiarised themselves with the schedule for the next two weeks and had a formal introduction to ITF’s signature Play and Stay program, the emphasis of which is on beginners being able to serve, rally and score from their first tennis lesson.

Several ITF experts underlined the importance of using red, orange and green balls which vary in pressures affording kids an ideal bounce to play with in these grassroots programs.

The course being held under the auspices of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, 15 spots were allotted to Thai coaches and tutors, and 12 spots left for coaches from Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Two Cambodian youngsters, Tep Timothy and Chheang Vannasith are also in Bangkok to attend the ITF/ATF 16 and Under Development Training Camp which opened with a coaches’ conference yesterday.