British star Watson challenges Esher and Kingston tennis stars to step up (From Sutton Guardian)

British star Watson challenges Esher and Kingston tennis stars to step up

8:00am Tuesday 25th December 2012 in Sport

British tennis star Heather Watson has warned this year’s intake for the Lawn Tennis Association’s Aegon FutureStars programme the hard work starts now.
 

Fourteen youngsters from Esher and Kingston were this week selected to take part in the initiative, which will see them given access to support and funding from the sports governing body for 2013.
 

“The programme  identifies the most talented young players in the country, so it’s great these players have been chosen,” said Watson.
 

“I hope they use this support to help them achieve their dream of playing at the highest level.”
 

New Malden’s Jasmine Asghar, 14, Tanysha Disanayake, 11 and Krisnaa Muhunthakumar, 10, are joined in the squad by Kingston’s Lara Bakhaya, nine, George Davis, 11, and Katrina Weymouth.
 

Surbiton’s Madeleine Long, 11, and Oriana Parkins-Godwin, nine, are also part of the intake, as are Chessington 15-year-old Luke Stevenson  and Weybridge Tennis Academy based Max Basing, 10, and George Shields, eight.

Esher’s Freddie McGeehan, 15, Alexander Page, 11,  pictured left, and  Sally Pethybridge, nine, complete the squad.