Tennis players in Burnaby are likely heading indoors to keep up their skills during the colder months.
Burnaby Tennis Club is looking to do the same by hosting several sessions for youth girls for, what's known as, the bubble season, thanks to recent funding from the sport's national governing body.
Tennis Canada has awarded the local organization $5,000 to help remove participation costs for the upcoming winter tutorials as part of its efforts to get more young girls into the game.
"Burnaby Tennis Club is proud to be part of this important initiative to increase the participation of women in tennis," said Lawrence Kumar, president of Burnaby Tennis Club's board of directors, in a statement provided to the NOW.
"This generous grant from Tennis Canada and National Bank will allow Burnaby Tennis Club to offer free introductory tennis sessions to young girls of diverse backgrounds in our community who may otherwise find participation challenging. Hopefully, we can ignite some sparks for tennis as a life long passion among girls new to the sport."
Kumar added the club — located at 3890 Kensington Ave. with six indoor courts open from October to April — aspires to provide the opportunity for non-competitive players to experience the sport in a safe and inclusive environment.
The money was unveiled last Tuesday, Oct. 24, through the "Game. Set. Equity. Community Tennis Grants" program.
Burnaby's club was one of 10 recipients from across Canada, three out of B.C., for the 2023 round of funding.
"This funding will be crucial in making Burnaby Tennis Club's goal of increasing the participation among women and girls in the sport in Burnaby, B.C., a reality," added Tennis Canada spokesperson Marc‑Antoine Farly.
For more information about the Game. Set. Equity. grants, you can visit Tennis Canada's website.
