The 5th National Students Tennis Championship -Graham C. Lim Classic Qualifying Tournament has been moved from November 24 to 28, 2021 this year.
This development was disclosed by the FESSAP Tennis Club Director Antonio A. Quiza.
The early qualifier is in preparation for the 31st Summer Universiade (World University Games) to be held in Chengdu, China from June 26 to July 7 next year.
The 31st Summer Universiade had been scheduled for this year but a resurgence in COVID-19 cases around the world forced its postponement to 2022.
As such, the age of previously selected university tennis student-athletes in the sport was put into question and the eligibility of student-athletes had to be redefined to conform to the new age categories, according to Coach Quiza, whose FESSAP Tennis Club includes Executive Committee members Melchor Divina from Mapua University, Mysti Laureta, Josephine Lim from Chiang Kai Shek College, Raul Ballado and Graham C. Lim as Ex-Officio.
The delay in the University Games and subsequent local qualifying tournament have altered the preparations that the FESSAP had made in recent months, with mounting expenses that all went for naught.
The time and effort spent have taken its toll on the FESSAP as well as other sports associations or collegiate leagues, such as training of athletes, funding, safety, and most important of all, the medical issues regarding the COVID-19 pandemic such as vaccination, quarantine, travel/health insurances, and requirements to protect the student-athletes when they compete abroad.
Coach Quiza noted that the Universiade Qualifying Tournament, better known as the 5th National Students Tennis Championship, had earlier been slated this month from October 27 to 31.
The guests invited to grace the opening would have included FESSAP President Edwin Fabro and FESSAP Chairman of the Board Alvin Tai Lian, and Universiade Preparation & Monitoring Committee Chairman Prof. Robert Milton Calo, who is also the FESSAP Executive Vice President.
The designated venue would be the Philippine Columbian Association tennis court in Plaza Dilao, Paco District, Quirino Avenue.
For more information on the FESSAP Tennis Club, contact Quiza Sr. and/or Cecille Sarmiento.
For registration, Coach Quiza can be reached at his mobile phone number 0931 029 4623.