BY ROMULUS HUTA
NATIONAL lawn tennis representative Graham Mani has teamed up with a Northern Mariana Islander to finish at third place in the doubles competition of the South Pacific Open Junior Championships (SPOJC) held last month in Fiji.
The 2018 South Pacific Open Junior Championships (SPOJC) was held at the Regional Training Centre in Lautoka from June 25 to July 1.
Mani and female netter Zorika Morgan represented Solomon Islands in the event with both losing out in the singles competition at round of 64 to two Australians.
Morgan could not stand up to a hefty challenge from Tamara Bajagic as she lost out on two straight sets 6-0, 6-0.
Mani put in a strong fight against Junyi Tangi but lost 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2.
Tangi came out leading the first set before Mani made a comeback to win the second set.
With a one-all tie, the duo went in for the final set where Tang managed to win 6-2 which had him qualified into round of 32.
The setback in the singles competition did not hold back Mani as he partnered with Robert Schorr of Northern Mariana Islands to win the bronze in the boys under-18 doubles.
