The Korean under-14 (U-14)안전놀이터 women’s tennis team finished runner-up at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Junior Asia-Oceania Regional Preliminary Tournament.

Korea, led by coach Cho Yoon-jung (Thinkron Academy), lost 0-2 to Japan in the 2023 ITF World Junior Asia-Oceania Regional Preliminary Final, which ended in Kuching, Malaysia on the 26th.

The national team consisting of Chu Ye-seong (Thinkron Academy), Oh Ji-yoon (Yangju DTA), and Hong Ye-ri (Seoul Yangjincho) defeated Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals and Australia in the semifinals.

Although they lost to Japan in the final, they won the right to advance to the final round of the ITF World Junior, which gives them 3rd place.

Meanwhile, the men’s U-14 national team also departed for Malaysia on the 25th to compete in the ITF World Junior Asia-Oceania regional qualifiers.

The men’s national team, led by coach Kim Lee-sook (Choi Ju-yeon Academy), will feature Kim Dong-min (J-One Academy, Orion), Kim Won-min (Andong Middle School), and Jo Min-hyeok (Namwon Base Sports Club).

The men’s national team will play the group stage against Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and the top four countries will advance to the World Junior finals.

The men’s and women’s World Junior finals, featuring 16 countries, will be held in the Czech Republic in August.