Left-handed Our Sarith picked up a fabulous gift well ahead of his 16th birthday after beating two of his peers and two seasoned coaches on the way to the men’s singles title in the Kep Open, which concluded at the Villa Romonea court on Wednesday.

The talented youngster, who prefers to run around his backhands and convert them into power-packed forehands, dropped only one set in the whole tournament and that was in the final against TFC’s Junior Initiative coach Doem Somsocheaphearun, popularly known among his trainees as Krou Chea.

Our Sarith, who trains under national team assistant coach Chea Pov in Phnom Penh, beat Krou Chea 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 to record his first major triumph in the open class and collect a $125 cash prize. Krou Chea walked away with $75.

In the semi-finals, Our Sarith cruised past leading U14 category player Sen Sophon 4-0, 4-1 while Krou Chea got the measure of fellow coach Long Chomneth 4-1, 4-1.

In the preliminary rounds, Sarith proved too good for Boys U14 No 1 Chem Sophors and also accounted for tournament organiser and coach Sokphal Ngo-Sisowath.

In a well-contested mixed doubles final, Arnaud of La Baraka lounge bar and Sen Saukheng of ASPECA orphanage beat Bernad Fournier and Anne Catherine Houdee of Pomme-Cannelle shop 5-3, 2-4, 4-0.