Melbourne VIC, Australia, 17 April 2018 | tennis.com.au

Top junior tennis players from around the world will travel to Melbourne Park this week to take part in the Gallipoli Youth Cup, an ITF Junior Grade 4 tournament held on clay from 17-21 April 2018.

Recognised as the world’s only international junior tennis tournament held in commemoration of the soldiers who lost their lives at Gallipoli, the Gallipoli Youth Cup features some of the best juniors from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Latvia, China and Japan.

In its 11th edition, the Gallipoli Youth Cup will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of Turkish migration to Australia, celebrating and educating younger generations about the unique friendship that exists between the two nations.

Australians Ken Cavrak (Vic) and Megan Smith (Qld) are the respective top seeds in the boys’ and girls’ competitions which will feature up to 120 local and international junior players throughout the tournament.

“The Gallipoli Youth Cup plays a significant role to teach younger generations about the sacrifices made by our soldiers in the First World War more than a hundred years ago,” Tennis Australia Manager Tournament Development Francis Soyer said.

“The tournament highlights the value that tennis can play in integrating education, camaraderie and the wider community.”

The five-day tournament will run in conjunction with the Gallipoli Youth Cup’s School Education Program which aims to educate more than 600 primary school students about the events that took place. Students will engage in daily activities including a special presentation, ANZ Tennis Hot Shots and a tour of Rod Laver Arena.

“I am proud to say the tennis tournament and education program continues to flourish every year with players competing on court and students participating in activities to highlight the relationship between sport, community engagement and an event of national significance,” Director of Gallipoli Youth Cup Umit Oraloglu said.

PRO IT and RSL Victoria are proud sponsors of the Gallipoli Youth Cup.

“PRO IT are proud to be the Principal Partner of the Gallipoli Youth Cup,” PRO IT CEO and Principal Partner Bekir Kilic said.

“This junior tennis tournament embraces the ANZAC spirit of mateship, determination and team work. These attributes are found in everyday life and in the fundamentals of tennis.

“It is imperative to teach our children to embrace diversity, education, health and sport. This is a wonderful platform and positive experience for all involved, especially the youth of tomorrow whose lives will be enriched with confidence and opportunity when they take part in this sporting event.”

RSL Victoria CEO Michael Annett added: “The Victorian RSL has been a partner and sponsor of the Gallipoli Youth Cup since its inception and we value the opportunity to speak to hundreds of children from schools across Victoria on the meaning of ANZAC and the value of mateship, diversity and respect, between individuals and between nations.”

The winners of the tournament will receive a limited edition figurine containing authentic sand from Gallipoli. These items have been kindly donated by Military Shop, the official suppliers of the Gallipoli Youth Cup.

Gallipoli Youth Cup fast facts:

• The Gallipoli Youth Cup is an ITF Junior Grade 4 tournament for boys and girls
• Since 2008, the tournament’s School Education Program has educated approximately 8,000 primary school children about the events of Gallipoli
• This year the Victorian Government will again provide educational booklets about World War I
• 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Turkish migration to Australia – a key focus of this year’s Gallipoli Youth Cup and School Education Program. Local Turkish communities will engage with the tournament in a community building exercise
• 5 seed Cihan Akay born in Australia and of Turkish heritage is a symbol of the unique friendship that exists between the two nations
• Since its inception in 2008, more than 1,000 players representing 30 nations have participated in the Gallipoli Youth Cup
• To date more than 30 primary schools from across Victoria have taken part in the Gallipoli Youth Cup’s educational program.

For more information about the Gallipoli Youth Cup please visit www.gallipoliyouthcup.com.