80 YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS FROM 20 COUNTRIES TO COMPETE IN BANJALUKA TOURNAMENT

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 18 /SRNA/ - The Republika Srpska Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports supports sporting events at the European level, such as the Europe Under-14 tennis tournament, which begins today in Banja Luka and has brought together 80 participants from 20 countries in both competitions, the ministry said.

Assistant Minister for Sport Danijela Ćapin said the ministry was pleased to support such sporting events.

"We believe that tournaments for players under the age of 14 are a time when children develop habits and build character. Republika Srpska will continue to invest in young athletes, clubs and coaches, helping them take the next step and opening up new opportunities for them. We want to support sporting events of this level so that Banja Luka and Republika Srpska can become sports hubs," Ćapin said.

Ćapin expressed her hope that the young tennis players would take home fond memories of Banja Luka and want to return in the years to come, the ministry said on its Instagram account.

Tournament host Zoran Zrnić said they aimed to organize the competition primarily to support young local players, as the under-14 generation of tennis players is highly promising.

"We wanted to help them by organizing a tournament in Banja Luka, so that our players could compete for new ranking points on home soil without having to travel. We approached the ministry and received its full support, not only financially but also organizationally," Zrnić said, adding that he feels a new energy within the ministry that is helping not only tennis but other sports as well.

The tournament's top seed is Sara Tripić from Doboj, who has high expectations and will try to win the tournament.

"I want to improve further," Tripić said.

The tournament promoter is Andrej Nedić of Doboj Tennis Club, who said this is a great opportunity for young players just starting their competitive careers, and that playing on home soil is a major advantage.

"Certainly, this is a new experience and an opportunity for them to improve, and I am especially pleased that Sara, from my club, is the top seed. She is very hardworking and talented. We are a small club with a big heart," Nedić said.

The host of the tournament, which begins today and runs through Monday, August 24, is the Elite Tennis Club.