PANCARIBBEAN Bank has recommitted their support to the All- Jamaica Junior Tennis tournament by announcing a whopping $1.6-million sponsorship deal at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

The four-day tournament, which has been sponsored by PanCaribbean Bank for the seventh year, will serve off on July 4 at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Picadilly Road in Kingston.

Tamara Waul-Douglas, PanCaribbean manager business priority unit, said her company is elated to be associated with the tournament and that it is a correlation between sports and emotional development of the youth.

“The sporting arena continues to be of high importance for the Sagicor/PanCaribbean team as we endeavour to impact the development of the children of Jamaica,” said Waul-Douglas.

She continued: “We would like to offer sincere thanks to Tennis Jamaica for offering us the opportunity to partner with them to reproduce an event of this scale and relevance.”

Over 150 players are expected to compete in five age group categories for boys and girls ranging from Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18.

Newly appointed president of Tennis Jamaica, John Bailey, thanked the sponsors for their support.

“PanCaribbean is one of our most committed partners in providing opportunities for our junior talent here in Jamaica. Tennis Jamaica views this tournament as the top local junior tournament and encourages all juniors who want to secure their international rankings and represent Jamaica internationally to participate in it,” he said.

Bailey pointed out that almost all of Jamaica’s national representatives, past and present, have participated in the All Jamaica Junior Championship and made reference to Davis Cup players in Ryan Russell, Damar and Damion Gordon, Dominic Pagon, Eldad Campbell, Brandon Burke, Fed Cup players Tinesta Rowe, Alanna Broderick and Kadija Richards.

“The PanCaribbean Bank All Junior Tournament also serves to prepare our top junior players for Tennis Jamaica’s annual International Tennis Federation (ITF) Championships which will be held at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre one week later,” said Bailey.

“Over the years, the All Jamaica Junior has been used by many of Jamaica’s leading junior players as a vehicle to help prepare

them to win tennis scholarships to universities to the United States,” the tennis boss said.

One such young talent, Blaise Bicknell, last year’s Under-10 and Under-12 champion, will be aiming to add the Under-14 and 16 titles to his tally.

“I have been playing tennis since I was two years old and I have played the All Jamaica for the past three years. This is the tournament that I look forward to and train my hardest because it is the largest junior tournament in Jamaica,” said young Bicknell.

He added: “So far I have won the 10s and 12s and this year I hope to conquer the 14s and do my best in the 16s.”

Meanwhile 18-year-old Phadria Kepple, who is seeded seventh, has high hopes to creating an upset while gaining valuable ITF points.

“Each year the tournament is very competitive and this year I hope to get to the finals and try to win. The PanCaribbean is a good tournament for youngsters… it is like the biggest tournament for the year and I am really looking forward to it,” said Kepple, who just graduated from Wolmer’s Girls High School.