Junior Tennis Double Gold

The Cook Islands junior tennis team had a strong showing at the 2024 Pacific Continental Junior Championships in Fiji this week, winning gold and silver medals.

Under 16 gold medalists Raetea Rongo and Tekura Tamangaro performed very well.

Longo performed well in this tournament, winning the gold medal by defeating Pauline Hyun of Papua New Guinea 7/5, 6/7(5-7), 11-9 in a thrilling match to win the Under-16 Girls Singles Championship.

She then teamed up with Tekoura Tamangaro to defeat Mia Chang Yu-Shan of Tahiti and Latoya Fruen of American Samoa 6-2, 6-0 to win the U16 doubles title and gold medal.

Cook Islands tennis gold and silver medallists with their coach Malcolm Kajal (left) and the International Tennis Federation’s Dermot Sweeney (right). MARCELLE ROSSOUW/24071225

In the under 12 boys category, which competed as a team, Mareko Webb, Luca Rossouw and Evan Rennie-Moore won silver medals.

Despite their impressive performance, they lost 2-1 in a hard-fought battle against top-ranked Guam.

The national team is led by head coach Malcolm Kajer and supported by parents Marcelle Rossouw and Amber Rennie.

The Cook Islands tennis team won silver at the Pacific Junior Championships in Fiji. From left to right: Luca Rossouw, Evan Rennie-Moore and Mareko Webb. Cook Islands Tennis Team/24071226

Cook Islands Tennis would like to thank Marcelle Rossouw and Amber Rennie for managing the team, ensuring the players are looked after and prepared for their matches each day, and supporting coach Kajer.

The Tennis Association also “expressed its deep gratitude” to national team coach Kajal for devoting his time, effort, energy and love to the children for their love of tennis.

The team will arrive in Rarotonga at 2am tomorrow (Sunday morning).

Respected 33^road The Pacific Youth Championships U12, U14 and U16 divisions feature teams from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tahiti and Vanuatu.