The road to Singapore is now in Nonthaburi, Thailand, where the ITF Asia 12&U Team Competition, Regional Qualifying Event of South East Asia is underway from 4 to 8 May. With both the boys’ and girls’ competitions in action, another important week is unfolding for the region’s rising young teams.
In the boys’ event, the teams are Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines and Malaysia. In the girls’ competition, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines will compete. Thailand comes in as the top seed in both draws, with Indonesia seeded second and Malaysia third in the boys’ event, while in the girls’ section Malaysia is seeded second and Indonesia third.
This South East Asia leg is part of the wider structure of the ATF 12&U Team Competition. Earlier in the year, the South Asia regional qualifying event was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 13th to 17th April, where India finished first in both the boys’ and girls’ events. The ITF Asia 12&U Team Competition Finals are scheduled for 15th to 20th September in Singapore.
This year’s calendar has already seen one change. The West Asia leg in Bahrain was postponed/cancelled because of the difficult situation in the Gulf region. From Thailand, the regional journey will continue to Central Asia, with the next leg listed for 16th to 20th June in Uzbekistan. The East Asia competition is also still to come later in the season, while the Finals remain set for 15th to 20th September.
That is what gives this week in Nonthaburi its importance. At the 12 and under level, these events are not only about winning ties. They are also about learning how to play as a team, handling pressure while representing your country, and taking the next step in the regional pathway. But at the same time, the result still matters, because every regional event shapes the road to the Finals in Singapore.
South East Asia always brings a lot of energy to these events, and this year’s field looks exciting once again. There are strong teams, young players with big ambition, and several nations who will believe they can make this week count. For many of them, this will be one of their first big experiences of playing for their country. For others, it is another chance to take one step closer to Singapore.
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