JAMAICA is sending a contingent of six players and two coaches to the annual North, Central America and the Caribbean World Juniors Boys and Girls Under-14 Tennis Championships to be held in San Salvador, El Salvador, March 11-17.

The Jamaicans were due to leave the island yesterday.

The boys team will be coached by Ryan Russell and consists of John Azar from Hillel Academy, John Chin from Hillel Academy, and Damani Cain from Wolmer’s Boys; while the girls team is to be guided by Llockett McGregor, and includes Jenna Harrison from Campion College, Moesha Fox from St Andrew High School For Girls, and Michaela Stephens from Liberty.

Several teams from the Caribbean, North and Central America will be participating in the Team Championships, which will be played over six days.

The other participating countries include Puerto Rico, Curacao, Guatemala, Haiti, Barbados, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Suriname, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago are some of the countries.

Teams are scheduled to be divided into groups and each tie consists of two singles and a doubles match. At press time, Jamaica’s opponents were not known.

“The players have been working and training very hard and they have recently participated in a local tournament last weekend,” said McGregor.

“I expect them to do their best, and they looked pretty good in training. The tournament has always been a tough one, but they are well prepared for the challenge, which I hope they will qualify for the next round of the championships,” McGregor said.

Meanwhile, boys coach Russell said the players are looking sharp ahead of the games.

“It’s going to be a very tough and challenging championships against some very good players from the Western Hemisphere in their age-group,” he said.

— Gerald Reid