Sidibari
Maldivian Tennis players Nym Ahmed Saleem and Clara Sarena Asif have qualified for the main draw of the ITF Maldives Junior Open, following their victories in yesterday’s qualifying round.
Six local players had competed in yesterday’s qualifiers. In the girls’ playoffs, Mal Mohamed, Aishath Livia Khatheer and Zahara Lylie Shiyam were eliminated. Zahara was knocked out 3-6, 0-6 by Maldivian counterpart Clara Sarena Asif, while Livia and Mal had fallen to international players.
Alongside Clara, Nym Ahmed Saleem was the only other local player to make it through to the main draw. Nym won 6-1, 6-0 against Sri Lankan player Rashmi Omaya Wijewardana, who is placed 3623rd on the ITF Junior rankings. The 15-year-old had delivered a similar result on Saturday as well. She played against Aarnavi Tomar Aura of India, and won 6-0, 6-2.
In the boys’ qualifiers played yesterday morning, Mika Mohamed Kaleem faced Takahito Nakano of Japan. Although Mika gave a good fight, the Japanese player won 2-6, 3-6 in the end.
As the games of the Main Draw start this morning, eleven of the Maldivian players have already been seeded into the main. With the qualification of Nym and Clara, a total of 14 Maldivian tennis players will compete in it.
