Game, Set, Match! Bangkok Patana School Celebrates New Tennis Courts
Play, Aspire and Achieve
Bangkok Patana School has just served up something special: new ITF certified tennis courts nearly 30 years after the first courts were opened! This makes Bangkok Patana School only the second facility in Thailand to receive ITF (International Tennis Federation) certification, and the first school in Thailand to have such certified courts. The grand opening was a lively event, with community members joined by Tourism of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, and former Thai professional Danai Udomchoke to celebrate this milestone.
The ITF certification was granted based on the following outstanding features of the courts:
– High-quality court surfaces identical to those used in the US Open
– Standard-compliant slope and evenness of the courts
– Spacious areas between and around the courts
– Shaded roofing with a higher-than-standard ceiling for optimal ventilation
– Lighting direction and distribution designed for competitive-level environments
Head of School, Chris Sammons opened the celebration with a trip down memory lane, recalling the last time the tennis courts were inaugurated way back in 1994! “What would our Founder, Rosamund Stuetzel say seeing our new tennis courts? – WOW!” exclaimed Mr. Sammons. He praised the school’s leadership for their vision and the dedicated educators who’ve built on the legacy of past generations. Mr. Sammons thanked everyone involved—from parents to the community—for making these courts a reality.
Khun Thapanee, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, then took the mic to talk about how these courts aren’t just a win for the school, but also for Thailand as a whole. With a nod to the architects and the facilities team, she pointed out that the school’s new facilities position Thailand as a top-notch educational and sports tourism destination. She concluded her speech with these inspirational words, “The new tennis courts are not just a place to play, but a place to dream, to aspire and a place to be a champion.”
Head Tennis Coach Dan Ahl, a school veteran of 18 years, said that with 250 students already hitting the courts this week, he is excited about the future; believing this investment will serve the school’s tennis programme – and its reputation -well into the future.
Foundation Board Chair Dr Tarisa Wattanagase and Governor Thapanee cut the ribbon along with other members of the community and opened the Tennis Courts for play. The inauguration event concluded with an exhibition match with Thai tennis professionals Danai Udomchoke and Jan Viratprasert on court with our Varsity Tennis Academy students. Mr. Sammons also tried his hand at playing Tennis with some of the students and they did give him some fair advice in case he decided to play again!
