KALLANG: National tennis player Elsa Wan is hoping to help Malaysia secure promotion in the Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) Asia-Oceania Group II competition this year.
Elsa and teammate Saw Jo-Leen led Malaysia to a best-ever third place finish in Group II when it was held in Malaysia last year.
The event is again expected to be held in Malaysia this year though the dates have yet to be finalised.
Group II this year comprises Indonesia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Oceania, Philippines, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.
"We finished third last year so we will be trying our best to get promoted this season. If that is not possible, I hope we can at least equal last season's results," said Elsa when met at the Asics Regional Tennis Summit here today (Feb 2).
"Of course securing promotion to Group I will not be easy, there will be a number of good teams competing again this season.
"I believe our BJKC squad will be similar to last season. I think I have good chemistry with Jo-Leen in the doubles. We even won the Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold together recently for Selangor.
"But I am open to being paired with other players as well. The key is for us to train hard and really work together as a team."
Elsa, at only 22, is already a senior figure in the women's national team.
She is pleased to see younger players such as Daania Hazli and Mak Zooey, both 14, showing great promise during the Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup (STIC).
Malaysia finished third overall in the mixed team competition, which concluded at the Kallang Tennis Hub yesterday, behind champions Singapore and second-placed Indonesia.
"I think they are both doing very well. If they keep training well and get the competition exposure they need, they can go far. They have the talent for it," said Elsa.
Elsa, Darrshan Kumar and recently appointed Davis Cup and BJKC captain Koay Hao Sheng are all sponsored by Asics and have been equipped with the newly launched Asics Gel-Resolution X tennis shoe from the Japanese brand.
