Zoleta braces for tough schedule

Soft tennis player Bien Zoleta has a busy year ahead despite the exclusion of her sport in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand from 9 to 20 December.

Zoleta said with her sport scrapped in the prestigious biennial meet, she and the others will be competing in various tournaments like the Poland Open, Korean Open and India International Tournament.

“We need international tournaments to prepare for the Asian Championships. Yes, that’s where you can gauge if there’s exposure,” Zoleta said.

“When it comes to Asian Championships, all of the strongest teams in Asia will be there.”

With the SEA Games out of her equation, Bien is also slated to join forces with her sister Bambi Zoleta in pickleball for 2025.

Zoleta wanted her sister to join more pickleball events last year but couldn’t due to her duties as a national team coach in the Philippine girls’ tennis team.

“We are preparing for a world championship event in Bali and an Asian event in March,” Zoleta said.

“The level of the tournaments this year will be a bit heavy.”