DUSHANBE, March 16, Asia-Plus -- An annual youth tennis tournament dedicated to the Navrouz holiday is going on in Dushanbe.

Ibod Sharifi, vice-president of Tajikistan’s Tennis Federation, said that this year’s tournament little differs from the previous ones.  

“This year, amateurs are participating in the tournament alongside young sportsmen from the Sports School for Children and Youth of Olympic Reserve,” said Sharifi, “Thus, two capital clubs, Tennis and CSKA, are participating in the tournament this year.”  

The main objective of the tournament is to promote development of tennis in the country and draw more people into this kind of sports, according to the Tennis Federation vice-president.  

Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) and tennis Federation are organizers of this event.   

The tournament, involving 60 children and youth from the Sports School for Children and Youth of Olympic Reserve, started on March 14 and will last until March 17.