Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of OCM, was given the great honour to officiate the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Asia / Oceania Group II on Monday, 24th July 2023, at the National Tennis Centre Kuala Lumpur.
Tan Sri Dr. Norza, in his speech, congratulate Mr. Mirzan Tun Mahathir and his team Executive Committee Members and the Organising Committee from the Tennis Malaysia for hosting the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Asia/Oceania Group II, the premier international team competition in Women’s Tennis, with more than 100 nations competing each year.
“The honour of staging a back-to back’ annual tournament in this region is testament to the outstanding ability, competence and professionalism of the people behind the scenes that has convinced the ITF to grant the hosting right to Malaysia, for the fourth time overall”,
“In honour of Billie Jean King as the pioneering, iconic figure in every aspect of the games of Tennis, who was unwavering in her belief, each of you should strive your best to emulate her success”,
“To everyone connected to this tournament, including the backroom boys and girls, who make this event a success, remember this competition provides opportunities for us to contemplate wider human qualities – commitment, trust, fair play, discipline, teamwork, integrity and hospitality. The Olympic spirit engenders all of these” quoted Tan Sri Dr. Norza.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria delivering his opening speech.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria (left) and Mr. Mirzan Tun Mahathir (right), the President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (Tennis Malaysia).
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- The VIPs at the Opening Ceremony L-R: Mr. Shahizan Hasnan, Mr. Abishek Mukherjee, Dato’ Patrick CJ Liew, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, Mr. Mirzan Tun Mahathir, Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan & Mr. Jerry Ng.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria and Mr. Mirzan Tun Mahathir jointly launched the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Asia / Oceania Group II.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria being introduced to the Captain of Team Hong Kong China, Ms. Zhang Ling.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria being introduced to the Captain of Team Malaysia, Mr. Selva Rajoo Singaram.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria being introduced to the ITF Referees.
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- Mr. Mirza Tun Mahathir (right) presenting a token of appreciation to Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria (left).
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- Group photograph at the end of the opening ceremony.
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- Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria having a press conference after the opening ceremony.
Dato’ Sieh Kok Chi was born on the 8th of November 1938. After his retirement in 1991, as an Engineer in the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia, Dato’ Sieh chose to continue his involvement, full time, in the field of sports, where his life-long passion was, especially in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
Born on 21st March 1949, Y.A.M Tunku Tan Sri Imran is the second son of the late Tuanku Jaafar, an elected monarch of the Negeri Sembilan. Tunku Imran was educated in the UK at the King’s School, Canterbury and studied law at Nottingham University before being called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, London in 1971 and qualifying as a Barrister at Law.