“Tennis is an expensive sport. Equipment and tennis court rental come at significant costs – expenses can reach three-figure sums in a week. Thus, support serves as a great motivator, particularly for youths, and upon reiving aid, they feel more motivated and understand that those around them have faith in them, which spurs them on to try even harder,” says Lithuanian national tennis team captain, Vilnius Tennis Academy trainer Rimvydas Mugevičius.
According to Mugevičius, supported athletes feel crucial psychological support, which encourages them to keep training and pursue the highest results. “When there is support, you are not on your own. When someone invests in you, you come to understand that you have strong backing, and this is truly important to the players,” R. Mugevičius says.
With the first stage of support for 2021, 25 thousand euros in financial aid has already been allocated to youth talents, and 17.5 thousand euros have been allocated to the highest performing athletes. Another 7.5 thousand euros have been given to those participating in the project Mokykis bei Siek Teniso Aukštumų [Study and Strive for the Pinnacle of Tennis] and coordinating studies with sports, with Funding allocated to Ainius Sabaliauskas, Patricija Paukštytė, Dominykas Stonkus, Patricija Cechanavičiūtė, Pijus Reklevičius, Viltė Vaitkevičiūtė and Liepa Galvelytė.
In total, the Darnių Iniciatyvų Paramos Fondas intends to allocate 133 thousand euros to the Youth Talents programme in 2021. Support will be directed to Vilnius Tennis Academy (VTA) players who earn high evaluations and earn prizes in national and international tournaments. Such support is especially valuable for youths – in the pursuit of improvement, they travel a great deal and participate in tournaments, where financial support and the option of playing at the SEB Arena tennis courts free of charge also plays a key role.
The remaining 67 thousand euros will be distributed to the Teniso Talentai [Tennis Talents] programme and disabled persons sports in order to ensure equal opportunities to participate in sports. The Teniso Talentai programme aims to assist professional players in the Lithuanian national team who are seeking better results, bringing prominence to Lithuania through their achievements. The Teniso Talentai programme’s support has previously assisted the country’s best tennis players, including such stars in the sport as Ričardas Berankis, Laurynas Grigelis, Justina Mikulskytė and others.
“We began popularising the sport of tennis two decades ago, and we sought to create more favourable conditions for tennis players to grow and improve. We wish to encourage athletes to pursue even greater goals, and so we are glad to be able to contribute to their victories which bring recognition to Lithuania,” says Darnu Group CEO Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė.
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