CONSULTANT Cardiologist Datuk Dr Devan Pilay (pic) was the runaway winner in the CEO and Celebrity Charity Tennis event at the National Tennis Complex in Jalan Duta yes terday.The event, organised to garner funds to help children in need of medical care, saw 44 entries and in the end, collected a total of RM61,160 for the worthy cause.
Ling Hee Kiat, director of SHH Resources, and Paul Poh Yang Hong, the Managing Director of Corporate and Private Equity Group Investment, ended tied for the second spot on 22 points.
The third spot also saw Television personality Soo Kui Jien and Chief Operating Officer of GO Communications Peter de Kretser sharing the honours on 21 points.
The tournament ran on a different format, as each player played in five doubles matches where they changed partners after each match.
The top five winners received a trophy each while every participant received a framed caricature of themselves in tennis attire.
“The event is getting bigger each year and every par ticipant that I spoke to today only had good things to say about it. They had fun in the sun, and at the same time, contributed for a good cause.
“Our target was to collect RM60,000 to help children in need of medical care and we achieved it. The biggest contribution came from Bursa Malaysia, who chipped in RM20,000,” said New Straits Times Press Chief Executive Officer Datuk Anthony Bujang.
Datuk Devan keeps himself fit by playing tennis twice a week, but his first love was badminton.
“I used to play badminton in Victoria Institution and was the doubles partner to Razif (Sidek) in the national juniors those days.
“I loved the sport but my father told me to forget about it and concentrate on my studies. So, instead of becoming a national sportsman, I turned into a cardiologist,” said De van.
But he picked up tennis and actively keeps himself fit: “I have played in all three editions of this tournament, and you could say that I am third-time lucky,” quipped Devan.
And among the celebrities former Malaysian Idol host Soo Kui Jien was the only one who ended up with a trophy when he finished joint third.
Jien, who got his big break when he became a host on the Disney Channel in 1997, was the Emcee yesterday and kept the event lively.
RESULTS: 1 Datuk Dr Devan Pillay (25 points), 2 Ling Hee Kiat (22 pts), 3 Paul Poh Yang Hong (22 pts), 4 Soo Kui Jien (21 pts), 5 Peter de Kretser (21 pts).
