ITHF Honors Chinese Tennis Association with Global Organization of Distinction Award
In recognition of their immense success in growing tennis in China and positive impact on the global growth of the sport, the Chinese Tennis Association was honored today with the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Global Organization of Distinction Award. The award was presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) in partnership with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) at the ITF Annual General Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, where delegates of more than 150 national tennis associations are currently gathered.
The award is presented annually by the International Tennis Hall of Fame to a tennis organization, association, federation, or facility that has demonstrated a successful track record of distinguished service and contributions towards the growth of tennis.
“The Chinese Tennis Association may have a short track record, but it is a very distinguished one. The association has invested strategically in events, coaching education, grass-roots participation and player development, and earlier this summer Li Na became the first Chinese athlete to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the sport’s ultimate honor,” stated Todd Martin, International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO. “To be recognized amidst the 150 plus nations at the ITF Annual General Meeting speaks volumes for what they’ve achieved and I’m excited for their future.”
In recent decades, the Chinese Tennis Association’s work has resulted in soaring levels of interest and participation in tennis in China at all levels, including the emergence of more than 19 million recreational players, world-class tournaments on both the ATP and WTA tours, numerous top-100 WTA players, as well as Olympic success with a Gold Medal in women’s doubles in 2004 and Li Na’s Hall of Fame induction this year.
Chinese Tennis Association Vice President Liu Wenbin accepted the award, stating “This award is in recognition for the efforts we’ve made to fulfill and realize our mission to make the sport of tennis the fastest growing sport in China. This is a great honor, but more so an encouragement and inspiration for us to make even greater efforts.”
Nominations for the Global Organization of Distinction Award were submitted by the tennis community at large, with the Chinese Tennis Association was selected as the winner by a committee comprised of representatives of the ITHF and the ITF. The award is now in its third year, having previously been presented to Tennis Cambodia in 2017 and the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in 2018.
