Rarotonga players dominate U21 tennis training session

Twenty young women have been officially selected for the Cook Islands U21 tennis training squad, most of whom are local trial players.

Coach John Grassi confirmed that six of the players selected are from Australia, one is from New Zealand and the rest are from the Cook Islands.

Training camp began this week, and the selected players received several tryouts on the first day on Wednesday to give them an early taste of what the week of training camp will be like.

“We did 38 trials leading up to that trial, we did skills training and then trials, basically putting them through the rigors that they’re going to face in training camp,” Glacier said.

“Training camp starts today (yesterday) and ends at 7pm on Saturday night.”

Asked how the team was selected, Grassi said: “We put an advert on Facebook and reached out to the netball community in New Zealand and Australia asking them to post tryouts.”

After the team selection, the team will have a busy training schedule. One of the main competitions the national team is preparing for is the Oceania Qualifiers in Rarotonga in three months. Three teams will qualify from this tournament for the Junior Tennis World Cup to be held in Gibraltar next year.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Cook Islands Netball Association executive committee and under-21 team management team congratulated the 20 trial players who were selected for the U21 national training squad.

“Cook Islands Tennis is very proud of our players and their achievements,” they said. “Their passion and dedication are to be commended. We wish all the best to the girls attending camp this week.”

In March this year, Grassi rejoined the Cook Islands Netball team as the new coach of the U21 team.

Cook Islands Tennis Association secretary and team manager Jenna Tere previously said Grassi had extensive experience, with more than 20 years of coaching experience, including leading the Cook Islands U21 team to the 2016 and 2017 World Youth Cups in Botswana.

She added that Grassi’s decision to return to live in the Cook Islands was a testament to his commitment to the Cook Islands community.

Cook Islands U21 Tennis Team: Tia Crombie, Father Mitchell, Kidan Touapou, Tapua Piakura, Jazaria Tongotongo, Mere-Jean Piri, Alia Koteka, Nicole Tiore, Deja-Marie Vetre-Patterson, Normawina Pepe, Ngawiya te Rure, Mahanare te Short, Matlaina te Rei Alistaira Poira, Tashi Kopu, Tailei Noovao-Blake, Maara Teariki, Maya Piakura, Terrisa Piri.