The Tennis Tournament “Yeltsin Cup-017” has ended in Kazan

(KZN.RU, February 26). The VII International Junior Tennis Tournament ITF “Yeltsin Cup-2017” has ended in the Kazan Tennis Academy. The champion in singles among girls was Anastasia Kharitonova (Russia), who defeated Carolina Berankova, the representative of the Czech Republic, in the finals. Yuri Rodionov (Austria) took first place among boys and defeated Nikolay Vilegzhanin (Russia) in the finals. Naina Yeltsina, the wife of the first President of Russia, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, and Shamil Tarpishchev, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, awarded the winners.

Naina Yeltsina, rewarding the winners, noted that the event gives young people a start in the sport. “Athletes have given us such a joyful tennis. Thanks to them and to the fans who truly supported tennis players”, said N. Yeltsina. The wife of the first Russian President thanked the leadership of Tatarstan and Kazan for the hospitality, excellent organization of the tournament and the attention paid to the sport.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the Tatarstan’s capital, also congratulated the winners. He gave champions a special prize of the Mayor of Kazan. I. Metshin noted that it is an honor for the city to host the “Yeltsin Cup” for the seventh time. “I congratulate the winners and wish every success to those who have not yet made it to the finals. We got a great pleasure watching your games. We are pleased that our tennis academy, which was built in anticipation of the Universiade, is filled with such events. Kazan will do everything possible for evolving of tennis and other sports”, said the Mayor.

I. Metshin thanked Yeltsin’s family for the opportunity to hold a tournament of such level in Kazan. “We cherish with great respect the memory of the first President of Russia, who did so much for our country, for the Motherland, but especially for Tatarstan and Kazan and we gratefully keep it in our hearts. I want, on behalf of all residents, to thank the Yeltsin Fund for holding such a wonderful event with us”, said the Mayor.

Tatiana Larionova, the deputy chairman of the Tatarstan State Council, Tatiana Yumasheva, the President of the Boris Yeltsin Fund, Vladimir Leonov, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of the RT, Damir Fattakhov, the first deputy head of the Kazan Executive Committee, Anastasia Myskina, the captain of the women's Russian national team on tennis at the Fed Cup and an honored master of sports of the Russian Federation, and others also participated in the closing of the competition.

A day earlier, the winners of the tournament’s doubles were announced. The Russian duet of Anastasia Kharitonova and Darya Nazarkina won among girls. Alexander Brainin (Ukraine) and Yuri Rodionov (Austria) won in the men's doubles.

The International Youth Tennis Tournament ITF “Yeltsin Cup-2017” started in Kazan on February 18. More than 100 athletes from 14 countries participated in the competition. The highest category was awarded “Yeltsin Cup” in 2015. The tournament is the only junior tournaments of this level, which held in Russia.