Top Asian tennis posts for Villanueva

PHILIPPINE Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva was named treasurer and member of the board of the Asian Tennis Federation during its annual meeting in Tehran, Iran, recently.

Villanueva, who oversees the national men’s and women’s teams, expressed delight over the ATF recognition and pledged to fast-track tennis development in the country.

“This means that the Asian tennis community is starting to recognize the Philippines’ effort to develop the sport and be at par with the best not only in the region but also in the world,” said Villanueva, who at 38 became the youngest ATF board member.

The new officers also unanimously made ATF president Salvador Andrada as their honorary president. Andrada, the longtime Philta chief, is a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Villanueva also represented the country in the ITF Centenary meeting held in Paris where he won the gold medal in a tournament among tennis officials.

Villanueva paired with Patrick Blanchard of Haiti to beat New Zealand’s David Patterson and South Africa’s Camilo Perez Lopez.  Marc Anthony Reyes