Rudi Roth funds tennis dream
YOUNG tennis star Lara Kaplan, 12, has been honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Rudi Roth Maccabi Australia scholarship fund, which was set up by Maccabi in conjunction with squash club legend Rudi Roth to provide a financial grant for Jewish athletes aiming high in sport.
Kaplan, who lives in Sydney, has been playing tennis since she was seven-years-old and is currently ranked 5th nationally for her age group. Her natural talent and many hours of practice paid off when she represented her state at the Australian Tennis Teams Championships at Melbourne Park in December.
A three-person panel that included a member of Roth’s family decided Kaplan fitted the selection criteria, which includes a will to succeed and filling the role of Maccabi ambassador to the community.
“It felt really good to be acknowledged for all the hard work I’ve put in,” Kaplan told the <I>AJN<P> after being notified.
“And for all the kids who end up getting this scholarship, we are really lucky that Rudi wants to help us and wants us to develop in our sport. I just to be the best player I can be, to continue what I’ve been doing and also be involved with Maccabi Tennis and all the great coaches there.”
Maccabi Australia president Barry Smorgon OAM said, “It was a very difficult task for the panel choosing out of quite a few outstanding athletes, but Lara was deemed the most deserving.
“This is a lovely initiative from someone like Rudi, who conquered a handicap to become an elite athlete. He initiated it and wants it to exist in perpetuity. It’s giving young athletes motivation and it might even inspire other similar donations.”
For Kaplan, the grant will help alleviate some of the expensive costs of playing tennis around Australia.
She said, “Hopefully (the scholarship) can help me get the best opportunities to compete in the various tournaments on the Australian open for my age.”
Pictured: Rudi Roth (left) with his scholarship’s first recipient, Lara Kapla
ADAM BLAU
For information about the Rudi Roth scholarship contact Ellana Aarons on (03) 95635865 or ellana@maccabi.com.au
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