ITF

The JTI is the cornerstone strategy for attracting youngsters and junior players to join the tennis family and spreading the game throughout many nations across the world. Lebanon is just one of a considerable number of countries to have benefited. Tennis is a leading sport in Lebanon and through the efforts of the Lebanese Tennis Federation (LTF) and coaches, large numbers of children are attracted to the game each year. By focusing on the JTI, the LTF is adopting a more systematic approach to engaging those aged 14 and under, and in 2018 alone more than 2,000 boys and girls in that age bracket experienced tennis, whether at schools or clubs, under the programme. One of the newer components of the JTI to be introduced in Lebanon was a 10-and-under tennis tour in the summer of 2018, which started at Mtayleb Country Club and aimed to create fun tennis events in every town and region. Lebanon has a history of good junior players and impressive achievements in regional events and that was underdeveloped area, but it is a unique experience. It is allowing him to dream bigger than he has ever dreamed before. I would say that the JTI is like an engine – it gives structure to the development programme of a nation, while it also provides resources, with one of the most important being equipment. Next to a market with street vendors and chickens in the remote town of Huehuetenango are two tennis courts. When you see children playing tennis on those courts with balls and racquets with the ITF logo, that's a big statement. It is not just Guatemala. I can say with some degree of certainty that tennis is alive in Cuba, another country in my region, because of the JTI. The equipment they receive on a yearly basis is what cultivates the sport. There are challenges, of course. Growing facilities where there simply are none is a big hurdle, as is having well-trained coaches capable of taking kids to the next level. However, I would say in the strongest possible terms that the JTI is instrumental in developing young players. With the positive influence of the coordinators, the JTI plants the seed and allows the fruits of tennis to start growing. most recently evident through the performances of Georgio Bidan, Lila Bachour and Mariane Berberiane at this year's ITF West Asia 12-an-under Team Championship. These players are the new faces of Lebanese tennis and have shown great potential for the future. They also demonstrate an important aspect of the JTI which has been given far greater emphasis of late. The performance aspect, as opposed to just participation, has been prioritised to ensure that there is a better link with the next step in a player's development, which is talent identification and exposure to junior competition. The JTI has proven a great success in Lebanon, although there is still great potential to exploit and the LTF is planning to gradually increase the number of schools participating in the programme. Through ITF support, the JTI in Lebanon receives equipment every year and more resources of this nature will be needed if the scheme is to expand and build on the considerable progress made up to this point. ITFWorld // SPRING 2019 2 7 LEBANON Amir Borghei ITF Development Officer, West and Central Asia JTI in Lebanon – Key stats and facts from 2018 • 2,462 (50% girls) children were introduced to tennis, with a cumulative total of 3,384 (55% boys) competition entries • 4 primary schools and 6 tennis clubs provided playing opportunities • 29 deliverers were involved in the provision of tennis sessions • 4 girls and 3 boys introduced to tennis through the JTI with an ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Ranking (since 2013) • 1 female, Nour Dib, introduced to tennis through the JTI with a Pro Ranking (since 2013) • 8,441 (53% girls) children were introduced to tennis, with a cumulative total of 11,447 (55% boys) competition entries • 34 primary schools and 35 tennis clubs provided playing opportunities • 59 deliverers were involved in the provision of tennis sessions • 10 boys and 6 girls introduced to tennis through the JTI with an ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Ranking (since 2013) JTI in Guatemala – Key stats and facts from 2018

• Cover