Organisers of the Touch of Class Women’s Road Tennis Tournament are anticipating 80 players will participate in the upcoming competition.
The tournament will be played between June 3 and 16 at the Deighton Pa Roach Road Tennis Facility and coordinator Juliet Worrell said the aim was to raise the level of the game among females, preparing them for more major tournaments in the island.
“In 2014, I said I wanted to host female tournaments for five years and after that period they (women) will be able to play in more difficult tournaments to add awareness to women in sports,” she said.
“This is my fifth year. After this I might be open to mixed tournaments, but I think this is it for me for the female brand unless a sponsor comes forward to keep that one going,” she said.
Worrell revealed that over the years the tournament has experienced significant growth.
“I started with 16 brave women who had the confidence in me to actually have a tournament in 2014. In 2015 we attracted 48, 56 in 2016, in 2017 we had 75. We will be aiming for 80 this time around,” she said.
Worrell said while a few of the faithful women over the years were unable to participate due to travel or illness, the tournament had already attracted ten newcomers, and has added five new categories.
These include Juniors Under-16; Novice, which will include people who have not entered more than three tournaments; a ‘B’ Class, ‘A’ Class and Doubles.
Along with cash, the winner of the ‘A’ Class segment will receive a fifth anniversary gold pendant with diamonds and a chain.
“I find that trophies can be a bit obsolete, so I said we need something that you can wear with pride and people can ask you about it,” said Worrell.
The tournament will be officially launched at the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited on Belmont Road on May 31. (RG)
