ITF

DEVELOPMENT Nepal "At the 2022 ITF Conference and AGM in Glasgow last November, Nepal was promoted to Class B ITF membership, which reflects an improved status within the ITF family. Nepal is a nation which hosts numerous events but could do with improving their coach education activity. I will be visiting Nepal soon and unfurling a very similar programme to that in Bangladesh. I will be leading an ITF Play Tennis Course – an introductory-level coaching certification for those looking to work with beginner players – and focusing upon tutor training in a bid to raise the level of grassroots coaching there. That's an important project. A major strength of Nepal is their National Tennis Centre in Kathmandu, which will be key to the future development of tennis there." Bhutan "In June 2022, Bhutan's National Tennis Centre in Thimphu caught fire and an office building there was completely razed to the ground, while other parts of the complex, including the canteen, were damaged. Thankfully, there were no casualties. This was a significant blow to the Bhutan Tennis Association, but I am pleased to say the ITF issued a $25,000 grant towards the cost of rebuilding Thimphu's National Tennis Centre, while the ATF also made a sizeable contribution through a disaster grant. Bhutan is a very active national association and really engaged with the ITF. The nation has achieved white level status (the first rung on the ITF's standard of coaching charter) in the ITF Recognition of Coach Education Systems programme and will be looking to have their National Tennis Centre recognised this year. While the nation already hosts ATF events, the next step for Bhutan is to start staging ITF events. The plan is for them to start hosting tournaments in 2023/24. Bangladesh "In terms of tennis development and participation, Bangladesh is far more engaged now than in previous years. Fuelled by new General Secretary Abu Syed Mohammad Haider, Bangladesh is now a hive of activity and with capital city Dhaka alone home to more than 20 million people, the potential there is huge. I am visiting Bangladesh this month where the ITF Asian 14 & Under Development Championships are taking place. I will also lead an ITF Play Tennis Course. The ITF's Junior Tennis Initiative, which provides opportunities for children to pick up a racket for the first time and encourages them to play in locally organised competitions and sessions within schools, is also growing. I keep being sent videos, which is lovely to see. Bangladesh really is a highly engaged nation and is very keen to host as many ITF events as possible and take advantage of the ITF Digitalisation Grant Programme. A recently refurbished eight-court National Tennis Centre in Dhaka is also a major plus." 34 Winter 2022/23 ITF World BANGLADESH BHUTAN NEPAL SRI LANKA INDIA Clockwise from top le : A coaches' course in Bhutan; the Bhutan team at a regional 12&U team championships in 2022; Nepalese players in 12&U ac on

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