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Kanani receives invite from New Zealand
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Posted on Oct 14 2004
Local tennis sensation Kanani Ashraf got another feather on her cap when she was recently invited to play in the International Tennis Federation Girls 14-and-under New Zealand Tennis Tour that would be held in Auckland this coming December.
Ashraf, who just turned 11 years old last August, said she is ecstatic over the invitation and is looking forward to representing the Commonwealth in the elite tennis tournament.
“I’ll be very proud to represent the CNMI—my birthplace—and my very supportive parents in the International Tennis Federation tour in New Zealand. I’m going to practice hard and perform even better to give a good name to the people of CNMI and my parents,” she said.
Ashraf’s father, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, said he and his wife, Verna Felipe, are mighty proud of their daughter’s achievements and will support her as she ascends the upper echelons of the sport locally and internationally.
“My wife and I are extremely delighted that our daughter has the opportunity to raise the flag of the CNMI and make its people proud by participating in such an esteemed international event at her tender age. We want to ask the community for their good wishes for Kanani’s continued success wherever she represents the CNMI,” he said.
Dr. Ashraf also extended his appreciation to junior tennis coach and Pacific Oceania Davis Cup team captain Jeff Race for helping his daughter reach this level of tennis.
“Kanani wouldn’t be where she is now if not for the dotting guidance of Jeff. In behalf of my family I would like to thank him for all his patience and help,” he said.
During last August’s 2004 ITF Pacific Oceania Junior Championships held in Lautoka, Fiji—where 17 Pacific Island nations participated—Ashraf delighted coaches and stunned players in her very first international tennis competition.
Ashraf finished fourth in the girls 14-and-under division and showed remarkable resiliency despite being the youngest among 48 participants in the tournament.
In the local tennis scene, Ashraf set a record of winning four first place trophies in the 2nd Annual Verizon Cup held also last August, which was organized by the Saipan Tennis Association.
