Lease renewal boosts tennis development

The renewal of the lease agreement for the Lautoka Regional Tennis Centre signals a renewed commitment to tennis in Fiji.

Fiji Sports Council (FSC) chief executive officer Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure made the comments during the lease signing with Tennis Fiji at Corner Café in Nadi last Friday.

He said the signing was more than a contractual arrangement.

“It is a clear statement of intent that sports like tennis, often considered minor in participation numbers, are major in potential, opportunity and impact,” he said.

“At the Fiji Sports Council, we believe that talent exists in every community. However, talent can only flourish when it is supported by the right environment.

“Quality infrastructure, proper facilities and consistent access to well-maintained venues are critical to athlete development, grassroots participation and high-performance success.

“This agreement ensures that the Lautoka Regional Tennis Centre will be properly managed, maintained and actively used to grow the sport — from junior development programmes to national pathways.

“When smaller sports are given the right facilities and strong governance, they grow. And when they grow, Fiji’s overall sporting landscape becomes stronger, more inclusive and more diverse.”

Ratu Gilbert commended Tennis Fiji for its vision and commitment to developing players, coaches and competitions, and said the council stood ready to support initiatives that expand participation and create opportunities for young people.

Tennis Fiji president Romil Patel said the agreement marked the beginning of a stronger future for tennis in Fiji.

He said Tennis Fiji was investing not only in courts, but in dreams, discipline and the next generation of Fijian athletes.

“Today’s agreement renews Tennis Fiji’s hope and strengthens our mandate — to lead tennis throughout the Pacific. Fiji already hosts the highest number of tennis tournaments in the region and the Lautoka Regional Tennis Centre contributes to that achievement,” Patel said.

He said six International Tennis Federation (ITF) world ranking tournaments were scheduled, expected to attract about 130 players from around the world.