It was with great pleasure that members of the World Harmony Run team met with former tennis professional Brenda Perry of New Zealand, on December 9. Brenda was on the circuit when the players used the old wooden racquets, and when Chris Evert, the 'Ice Maiden', and Martina Navratilova were champions.

Now Brenda is the Director of the ASB Classic Women's Tennis Tournament, which this year attracted a top field including the world number four, Elena Dementieva. Brenda is a friend of Billy Jean King and Martina Navratilova, both of whom had the opportunity to meet personally with the founder of the World Harmony Run, Sri Chinmoy.

Brenda displayed a real affinity with the World Harmony Run, congratulating us on our important efforts; she hopes to be a continued supporter next year, hinting that she may even have to run a little with us! Brenda agrees fully that sport and fitness have very important roles to play in helping to promote harmony and understanding in the world and sees sports people as ambassadors for international friendship.

Through Brenda's big heart and generous spirit we were also given the opportunity to meet New Zealand's top female player, Marina Erakovic, on December 10.

Marina Erakovic is New Zealand's top female tennis player with a current world ranking of 60, and ranked as high as 49 earlier this year. Through our meeting with former tennis pro Brenda Perry, we had this chance to meet briefly with Marina, who is back home for the next six weeks.

At only twenty years of age, Marina, who came to New Zealand when she was six years old, seems very mature – and I guess you have to be, travelling the world as a tennis professional. Marina instantly showed a great feeling for the World Harmony Run and was eager to hold the Torch. She said, "I like it when it's all about peace and harmony rather than fighting."

Many great players have already held the Torch and Marina was very inspired to follow in their footsteps. As we all know, life is a game to be enjoyed; sports people literally live this on a day-to-day basis, providing an example for us all to play hard but always fair. Marina exemplifies these qualities and shows great joy and humility at the same time. With that, she was off to her next engagement, and we do hope to have the opportunity to meet with her again in the future.

Our thanks once more go to Brenda Perry for making today's meeting possible.

– Budhsamudra Knox

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