ABU DHABI // A schools tennis programme has been extended to last the entire academic year.
Mubadala’s Tennis in Schools programme, which is now in its sixth year, will run from this month until May 2015, giving pupils at 20 schools the chance to try out the sport while also being taught about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
With the Mubadala World Tennis Championship just a few months away, there is an extra incentive for children to do well as two youngsters from each of the 20 schools will have the chance to test their skills on centre court on the opening day of the tournament, which will feature tennis superstars such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
Each participating school will receive two visits per month from a professional UAE tennis coach, who will host sessions with pupils and their PE teachers to enhance the quality of tennis coaching available in schools.
Nadine Saleh Hassan, head of social development and partnerships at Mubadala, said: “We are committed to helping develop Emirati youth into well-rounded individuals who realise the importance of health and fitness.
“Extending community programmes like Mubadala Tennis in Schools will help instil a mindset of healthy living through regular exercise.
“We’re excited to see how ongoing coaching and opportunities to play in tournaments like the Mubadala Community Cup can help grow talent locally so that in the future we might see UAE stars in the game.”
In its seventh year, the community cup is the region’s largest amateur tennis tournament. Free and open to all ages, players face off against each other across six age categories in a round-robin format. The eventual winner, runners-up and lucky raffle picks from each group will meet their tennis heroes on court during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which takes place on January 1 to 3 next year. Community cup participants must register before Monday.
For more information on the community cup or the world tennis championship, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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