PAPUA New Guinea’s junior tennis team will leave for Nadi, Fiji next weekend. They are setting out for their first regional tournament of the year.

PNG Tennis Association president Barbara Stubbings confirmed this on Friday. The Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) sponsored side returned to training after the festive season.

They will be competing in the 2025 West Pacific Regional Championship.

“Our KPHL PNG Junior team will fly out on Saturday (Jan 25) for Nadi, Fiji. This tournament runs from Jan 27 to Feb 01.”

“They will return home on Feb 02 reroute Honiara, Solomon Islands,” Stubbings said.

Meanwhile, the 14 juniors will feature a new U12 girls side. It consists of Port Moresby Racquets Club’s Alani Smith, Imelda Ragu, and Lae Tennis Club’s Macklyn Meninga. They are all set to make their debut in Fiji.

Last year’s WPRC U12 Boys silver medalists River-Jordan Hakena, Timothy Koliwan and Andrew Aisi have cemented their spots.

2024 Kwalam Apisah Shield recipient Adelaide Mesa will be taking over in the U14 Girls line up. She will be alongside Jemimah Bakani. Erik Michon and Athanasius Wash will represent in the U14 Boys side.

Last year’s U14 Girls WPRC and Pacific Oceania Juniors Champ Colita Hakena will transition into the U16 girls division. She is determined to continue her achievements from her transitions in the U12 and U14 divisions.

Hakena was named alongside Lae based Irene Jose expected to make her debut in this regional tournament.

The U16 boys will feature Thomas Hyun and Ivan Mera. They have climbed ranks and transitioned through the age divisions since their debut in the junior national team.

KPHL PNG Junior squad- U12 Girls/Boys; Alani Smith, Imelda Ragu, Macklyn Meninga, River-Jordan Hakena, Timothy Koliwan and Andrew Aisi, U14 Girls/Boys; Adelaide Mesa, Jemimah Bakani, Erik Michon and Athanasius Wash; U16 Girls/Boys; Colita Hakena, Irene Jose, Thomas Hyun and Ivan Mera