For the next four months, tennis star AJ Lim will have a loaded schedule as he starts his buildup for a possible stint in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games this August.
The University of the East sophomore is currently in China to take part in two Futures tournaments, including one in Anning where he is expected to face several top guns and rising stars in the Asian region.
His China trip was personally financed by Philta chief Atty. Antonio Cablitas, who vowed to discover more homegrown talents and revive the popularity of the sport that gave the country countless honors in the past.
“It is my dream to see full-blooded Filipinos represent the country in major tournaments, but I’m not closing the door on Fil-foreign talents,” said Cablitas, who is President Duterte’s adviser on foreign investments.
After the China jaunt, Lim who will turn 19 in May, will be part of the Philippine Davis Cup team that will go up against Indonesia in the first round of the Asia Oceania Zone Group II tie in Jakarta early next month then he will lead UE’s back-to-back bid in the UAAP.
In March, Lim, who won the prestigious PCA title at the age of 16, will undergo intensive training in the US under many-time champion Cecil Mamiit and Orlando Silvosa in preparation for three ITF-sanctioned tournaments in Turkey in April.
Lim’s participation in Turkey will be bankrolled by Philippine Airlines through Jaime Bautista, Philippine Sports Commission through chairman Butch Ramirez and the Philippine Tennis Association.
He is also penciled to see action in the tough Orange Park tournament in Florida.