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Palau is filled with promising young athletes working hard to make a name for themselves in their respective sports and when it comes to Tennis, at just 13 years old, Ayana Rengiil under the guidance of her mom, Ernestine has become quite the Tennis ambassador. In fact, Ayana is so dedicated she opted to miss her 8th grade graduation ceremony to travel to Saipan and compete in the IT&E Northern Marianas Open Junior Tennis Championships. This tournament was the first International Tennis Federation Junior World Ranking event hosted in the region and featured players from Germany, Spain, South Africa, U.S.A., Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, and Palau.
To be able to earn ITF Junior World Ranking points is an development for young international players and the IT&E Northern Marianas Open Junior Championships is considered a Grade 5 Junior ITF event. Basically what that means is that this is a great opportunity for tennis players from this region like Ayana to start earning some valuable points towards her world ranking relatively close to home!
So how did Ayana do? In her GS18 girls singles matchup, Ayana played the #8 seed in the tournament, Hongkong, and lost 4-6, 5-7.
In the GD18 girls doubles, Ayana teamed up with another 13 year old from South Africa, Warona Mdlulwa and moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over a doubles pair from CNMI. The girls then went on to beat a U.S.A./Philippines team, 0-6, 7-5, 10-8 and advanced to the semi-finals round. In the semi-finals match, Warona/Ayana were beaten by a pair from Japan 6-1, 6-0 but because Ayana and her partner made it to the semi-finals, each was awarded 5 ITF Junior World Ranking points!
Congratulations Ayana! Now Ayana and her teammates Spis Senior and Samuel Nillasca are training for the North Pacific Qualifying (NPQ), a junior tennis tournament that will be held in Saipan next month. The Palau Tennis Federation could use some financial assistance in helping these youngsters get to the NPQ so please call or text 775-2429 or 778-1299 if your interested in making a contribution.
In case you didn’t know this Friday May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. That’s right, way back in 1987, the World Health Organization and it’s member states started what is literally a worldwide campaign where everyone is encouraged no matter what race, creed or religion your come from to at least try and abstain from Tobacco for this one day. And who knows, you might feel encouraged to make it two, then three than who knows? Events are taking place around the globe but here in Palau, the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Palau along with other community sponsors is hosting the 16th annual World No Tobacco Day 5 and 10K walk/run which is of course this Friday May 31st starting at Bethlehem Park. Registration starts at 5 am and the walk/race starts at 5:30! There will be tshirts for the first 200 participants to register in addition to some great raffle prizes. In keeping with this years No Tobacco theme, to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship CTFP is creating awareness to pass legislation that would raise tobacco tax which would in the end would create less disease and death and increase more revenue. A Win Win right? If you’d like more information about the walk/run or tobacco legislation just call 488-4223 or email tobaccofreepalau@gmail.com.
Don’t forget the Palau Swimming Associating is launching it’s Summer Learn-to-Swim program
at the Palau National Pool in Meyuns.
This summer, give that important child in your life a gift that will last a lifetime – the gift of swimming.
June 10-28 (Monday through Friday) Mandatory Skills Check on June 10 from 9-10 AM Classes start on June 11.
Cost for PSA Members is $10 and Non-Members pay $25. Scholarships are available for children who otherwise cannot participate.
Contact Tina Shima 488-6562, 488-6307, 779-8181, tinashima@gmail.com or Judy Otto 778-8346, judyotto@live.com.
That’s not all, the Palau Swimming Association is proud to present their 8th Palau Open Water Swim on Saturday June 8th. There’ll be 250m, 500m, 1km, 3km, aand 5km events. You can see the 5km challenge will take you around one Palau‘s smallest Rock Islands. For Palau residents registration is only $20 for student athletes and $25 for Adults and you must pre-register! Event Fees include t-shirt, swim cap, brunch at PPR and gala dinner at Belau National Museum.
Non-participants can still participate in the dinner which includes entertainment & museum tour with ticket purchase of $25 for 12 yrs & older. $15 for ages 6 to 11 yrs old and free for 5yrs & below.
For more information contact: Madelsar Ngiraingas 778-5389 (phone or text) or e-mail madelsar.ngiraignas@gmail.com or Holly Farlin 778-5549 or e-mail holly.farlin@gmail.com