Tennis cup heals hurt of Gallipoli

Queensland Times | 17th April 2010

A TOURNAMENT at the George Alder Tennis Centre is uniting teenagers from around the world through sport.

The clay court facility is hosting the third annual Gallipoli Youth Cup (GYC) from today, bridging the gap between people from Australia and Turkey.

Tournament founder Umit Oraloglu said the GYC combined sport, education and friendship.

“It has always been my aim to make kids aware of the Gallipoli campaign and I think we’re doing that,” he said.

“We’re in our third year now and the tournament keeps getting bigger and better.

“This is the only junior tennis tournament in the world that remembers our fallen soldiers.”

Darwin’s Kassandra Dunser and Melbourne’s Ozge Mehmet have strong family ties to the eight-month Gallipoli campaign.

Kassandra’s great-grandfather fought for Australia in 1915 and 1916, while Ozge’s Turkish great-grandfather fought for Turkey.

Mr Oraloglu said the duo would take to the court as part of the GYC under much friendlier circumstances.

“Players like Ozge and Kassandra are uniting through tennis almost 100 years after their great-grandfathers were fighting against each other,” he said.

“It really is a great thing to have two great-grandchildren together so many years after their families and their countries were at war.

“This is an important point in the education process, and we will have a day for Ipswich schools on April 23, where (GYC ambassador) Pat Cash will come out and talk to the students.”

Kassandra said she would use the tournament to gain valuable clay court experience.

“I want to turn professional one day,” she said.

“I like playing on clay and played in a Brisbane tournament last week.”

On the other side of the net, Ozge said she wanted to test herself in Ipswich before heading back down south.

“I’m happy just to play the best I possibly can,” she said.

“This is the first time I have been part of the International Tennis Federation.”

Part of the Ipswich Festival of Tennis and proudly supported by The Queensland Times, the Gallipoli Youth Cup will be held at the George Alder Tennis Centre from April 17-23.