Association for Promotion of Tennis and Competitive Sports in the Negev
In Memory of Captain Liad Lavi
Captain Liad Lavi z”l was born November 2, 1991 and grew up in Meitar. Liad was passionate about tennis, just like the rest of his family.
In tenth grade, Liad enrolled in a military boarding school in Haifa, where he completed his high school studies. In March, 2011, he volunteered for the Parachute Corps and served in a patrol battalion, where he completed training as a combat soldier. Upon completing his combat training, he continued on to squad commanders’ course and then volunteered for officers training. Liad served as an officer for eighteen months prior to his death. One month before Operation Protective Edge, he was chosen for the prestigious position of commanding the brigade commander’s advance guard point platoon. He led the brigade into the Gaza Strip. On July 26, 2014, he was killed in battle in the Khan Yunis area, while discovering and destroying enemy tunnels. He was 22 years old.
Liad’s family, together with his tennis coach, Erez Shenkar, decided to honor him by holding an annual international tennis tournament in his memory, in collaboration with the Israel Tennis Association. The first Meitar Open was held September 5-12, 2015. It was covered by Channel Five Sports TV – see YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XH6qvPwOlc
The Association Aims to:
- hold an annual international tennis tournament in Liad’s memory, to boost awareness and the love of tennis and to offer an outlet for aspiring young tennis players.
- hold regional tennis competitions, to raise the athletic level of local players and boost their motivation to succeed.
- promote competitive tennis in the Negev at various levels.
- cultivate extremely talented athletes in the Negev.
The Association has been approved by the Registrar. Number: 580620250.
It is a nonprofit organization whose position holders are all volunteers
and is run in accordance to non-profit law.
Chairman: Shmuel Lavi 054-4450373
Treasurer: Erez Shenkar