27/08/2026
𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐎𝐌𝐑𝐂 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧
𝑩𝒚 𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑶𝑻𝑯𝒀 𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑰 𝑱𝑵𝑹
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒂
Solomon Islands tennis duo Junior Benjamin and Junior Kennedy have impressed at the Port Moresby Racquets Club (POMRC) Open, which concluded on Sunday in Papua New Guinea.
The three-day tournament attracted more than 80 entries from Papua New Guinea and overseas, with players competing in tennis and squash as part of the POMRC’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
Speaking to Star Sports, Benjamin said the pair were pleased with their performances and valued the opportunity to compete against high level opponents from across the region.
“The competition level was really high. We had players from Australia and the Philippines also competing, and we are so happy with the results.
“It was good to get tough matches like this to see where we can improve and the level we need to be playing at,” he said.
Benjamin enjoyed an impressive run in the Men’s Open, finishing runner-up after losing to Australia’s Billy Haoda in straight sets in the final.
In the Men’s B Grade final, 17-year-old Kennedy claimed the title with a dominant victory over Papua New Guinea’s Iven Mera.
The Solomon Islands duo then combined to win the Open Doubles title, defeating Papua New Guinea’s Steve and Bishop to cap off a successful tournament.
The pair said returning to regional competition was important as they build towards next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti.
“With the Pacific Games coming up, we need to get more match play and exposure overseas to prepare and see where we stand regionally at the moment,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin, who also coaches and mentors Kennedy, said the young player will now turn his attention to upcoming junior competitions around the region.
The duo also took the time to thank the Solomon Islands Tennis Federation (SITF) and the local tennis community for their continued support towards them and the sport.
Meanwhile, the POMRC Open doubles victory is the pair’s second doubles title of 2026, following their earlier success at the Independence Open in Honiara in July.
𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣 (𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙𝙮 (𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩) 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙋𝙊𝙈𝙍𝘾 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙.
