Ramesh wins bronze

Up-and-coming lawn tennis star Ramesh Banda saved Malawi’s face at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Southern Africa Junior Circuit Tournament in Botswana where he has won a singles’ bronze medal in the Under-14 boys’ category last weekend.

The 12-year-old secured the medal for beating Lucas from Mauritius 6-1, 6-2 during the third-placed encounter after stuttering to a South African top seed in the semifinals.

He also partnered with the Mauritian to win the doubles’ silver medal following their 4-6, 3-6 loss in the finals.

Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi (LTAM) media coordinator Tadala Kandulu said they are excited by the overall performance of the 12-year-old, who enjoys Petroleum Importers Limited’s (PIL) K1.7 million support.

“Banda’s performance was beyond reproach. By beating Namibia’s top seed Dick Deljogh 6-2, 6-0 in the singles quarterfinals and Botswana’s Motsaimu 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, he has shown that he is a great talent,” said Kandulu.

Female player Linda Msiska emerged as the second best performer among the country’s five representatives after she finished in the Under-14 girls’ singles quarterfinal. She earned a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Namibian Appoules Henderiana in the first round.

However, the going seems tough for their compatriots Derrick Gamula, Kelvin Kachepa and Mwayi Kadammanja who stuttered 0-6, 3-6; 0-6, 1-6, and 3-6, 1-6, respectively, in the first round.

Banda is using the junior circuit event to prepare for the ITF/CAT Masters Championships in Morocco in September.

He qualified for the ITF/CAT Masters Championships after he won singles gold in the Under-12 boys’ category during the ITF/CAT Southern Africa Junior Circuit Championships in Botswana, where he also grabbed another singles’ bronze and doubles’ silver.