Diego Quispe-Kim with his father Juan Quispe-Chavez. Photo supplied.One of the region’s brightest sporting talents has waved adios.

Mid Canterbury tennis whiz kid Diego Quispe-Kim and his family have made a permanent move to the North Island less than a week after clinching another tennis title in Ashburton.

The 14-year-old national age grade champion who has played for the Fairton club in Mid Canterbury in recent years is set to be reunited with his former coach Mark Belcher who is the head coach at New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park Tennis Club.

Belcher, who has had international playing and coaching stints over the years, coached a budding Quispe-Kim in Christchurch before the Taranaki man moved back home three years ago.

The Guardian spoke to his father Juan Quispe-Chavez a couple of hours before the family were set to relocate permanently to New Plymouth during the week.

Securing a job in the Taranaki region was previously the biggest hurdle for Quispe-Chavez however had since nailed down a job at Tegel.

“The main thing is Diego will get good support there.”

He said the move to the North Island would make it easier for his son to get onto the ITF circuit and nail down a world ranking.

“All the ITF tournaments are in the North Island.

“It’s a good age for Diego to start playing ITF and that’s why we made the decision to go there.”

The teen most recently clinched the open men’s event at the JTT Ashburton Sunday Classic six days ago.

The move north was not without a hint of sadness for the family as they farewelled some of the Mid Canterbury tennis community during the week.

“Diego was a bit sad and they were sad.

“Sometimes we have to make a step that is hard.

“We will try our best and see what happens.”

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 19 September 2020