TEENAGE tennis ace Hadil Ali Abdulraouf is courting success across the world and her school friends hope it will not be long before they are cheering her on at Wimbledon and the French Open.

Hadil Ali Abdulraouf is regarded as one of the stars of Bahrain's under-14 girls' tennis squad.

The 13-year-old Grade 8 student at the French School of Bahrain, recently showed her prowess on the courts and made the kingdom proud by winning the girls' doubles gold with her Malaysian partner, Lynn Yee Choo, in Bangladesh.

They smashed top-seeded Malaysian duo Adelle Boey and Teiviyia Selvarajoo in the semi-finals and took the International Tennis Federation 14 & Under Asian Championship title by beating Lebanon's Grace Taleb and the UAE's Fatima Janahi, seeded number two, in the final.

Overjoyed at winning her first gold medal, Hadil, from Juffair, said: "I went to the tournament to do my best and play well and defeating the top-seeded pair was special.

"Going to such international championships is great exposure and means I get to watch and meet more experienced players than me.

"Every match is a learning experience. You are preparing by concentrating, remaining calm even if you are losing a game and applying different strategies practised through the year at every new match."

Ahmed Al Eid, secretary general of the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF), said: "Hadil is young and has great potential. While ultimately we want our youth to participate in more competitions and get more medals we also want them to enjoy their sport. We hope to take tennis to the next level and develop the junior team."

Omneya Badr, Hadil's mother and pillar of strength, said: "Our family is completely into tennis. Her father, Ali, a Bahrain University professor, is constantly watching international matches, reading tennis magazines and discussing games with her. My son, Taher, who is eight, likes to think that he is Hadil's coach and is constantly telling her what to do."

In the last four years, Hadil's training has intensified. Under the supervision of coach Frederic Morgan, she trains up to five days a week, three-hours at a time. At home she has to work on her fitness to strengthen her back, shoulder and stomach muscles.

Mr Morgan explained: "We are constantly working on Hadil's game and what helps is her attitude and confidence. She is fit, works very hard and puts her whole heart into her game."

Hadil is highly-committed to her sport that she began playing at the age of six. She's literally on her feet for more than 12 hours a day. After school, which begins at 8am, she has a packed lunch in her mother's car while driving to the BTF at Isa Town for her three-hour training schedule. This leaves her just two hours for her homework and studies before she goes to bed at 10.30 every night.

Hadil said: "I am a normal girl. I love watching TV, chatting and emailing all my friends. I also have a profile on the Facebook and I enjoy reading and eating out. I know that I have no time to waste and so have to understand my lessons in school. Thankfully, I have been getting good grades in class - probably the best I have achieved in years."

At school her teachers and friends are supportive of the tennis starlet. "My classmates say that they will see me in Wimbledon and French Open one day, but I think they are very kind.

"I want to take it step by step and win tournaments. I am a big fan of Maria Sharapova who is a fighter. She hits hard and is really tough on the nets. If I do get a chance I want to play at the French Open," said Hadil.

Hadil's family hope a sponsor will step forward to make that dream a reality.

Mum, Omneya explained: "We are fortunate that we are getting the best possible coaching in Bahrain and she is being sent to different international tournaments. It also means that she's wearing out her shoes and grips very quickly!

"Although the Bahrain government covers Hadil's flight, food and accommodation costs, every trip abroad, an average of three a year, costs the family over BD1,100 as she cannot travel alone yet.

"She needs to take part in some of the good international summer camps, play and bring more glory to Bahrain. And for that it will greatly help if an organisation or philanthropist could come forward to sponsor her."

Readers wishing to help Hadil should email omneyabadr@gmail.com or call her on 39123849.