New ITF Development Officer appointed for Pacific Oceania region
The ITF’s mission is to grow, develop and promote the sport of tennis around the world, with a key focus upon increasing participation across all ages, genders, playing standards and physical abilities.
The recently published 2024 ITF Global Tennis Report revealed that worldwide tennis participation has surged to 106 million, an increase of 25.6 per cent in just five years – so the plan is working.
Development remains an integral pillar of ITF decision-making and the world’s governing body will continue to prioritise the growth of the game.
Indeed, the ITF has invested close to $50m into global tennis development during the past four years and this has helped finance a broad range of initiatives, predominantly in less-developed tennis nations.
Key to implementing the ITF’s development strategy are 10 Development Officers, who have a wide-ranging remit but are essentially the developmental boots on the ground within a particular region.
Under the supervision of the ITF and by working closely with National and Regional Associations, Development Officers oversee the delivery of education, participation, performance, events, facilities and resources and admin.
In more practical and less corporate terms, this could well mean establishing or enhancing the ITF Junior Tennis Initiative within a particular nation, helping with the upgrade of important facilities or ensuring a promising player has the necessary support to pursue their career. As mentioned, it is a wide-ranging brief.
Panjasilpa begins work in January 2025
Starting in January 2025, Dr. Pairin Panjasilpa will assume the role of Development Officer for the Pacific Oceania region, taking over from Gary Purcell who had been in position since September 2017.
Panjasilpa of Thailand holds a doctorate in Sport Business Management, is a certified ITF- CHP coach and has extensive coaching experience, including as a Grand Slam Player Development Programme travelling coach.
The 35-year-old has also competed on the ITF World Tennis Tour and broken the Top 100 as a beach tennis player, while also representing Thailand in the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships as a player and coach.
She will now assist in the development of tennis in nations such as Guam, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and Cook Islands.
“It is an honour to be appointed as the ITF Development Officer for Pacific Oceania and I cannot wait to throw myself into the role and contribute to the development of tennis across the region,” said Panjasilpa.
“Tennis is a sport that has meant a tremendous amount to me during my life and this role seems the perfect way to marry the pure love I have for the sport with my desire to see tennis flourish around the world.”
Debbie Kirkwood, the ITF’s Head of Performance and Events, said: “We are really looking forward to starting work with Pairin as we continue to grow the game of tennis in the Pacific Oceania region.
“Pairin is a supremely talented individual and the perfect fit for the region. We are excited to see her build upon the tremendous work done by Gary, for which we remain grateful, as Pacific Oceania enters a new era.”
Welcome aboard, Pairin.