Haarlemmermeer is one of the larger talent regions in North Holland and serves as a breeding ground for talent and elite sports. Yet not all athletes reach the top because they face financial and social obstacles along the way. In collaboration with Topsport Haarlemmermeer, we want to give promising athletes an extra boost through CTS GROUP Young Talents, the premier elite sports talent team in Haarlemmermeer!
This time, we are proud to introduce CTS GROUP Young Talent Venna Land! She is only 15 years old but already a promising tennis player who works hard every day to make her dreams come true. For the second year in a row, she is part of the Young Talents team.
Balancing school and elite sports
Venna attends Haarlemmermeerlyceum Dalton, where she is in the 5th year of pre-university education. She combines this with an intensive training schedule. “I train five days a week, mainly tennis, along with several hours of physical training. If I have a tournament, it can be on weekends or weekdays. It can get quite busy, but I give it my all every day.” This requires good coordination with school. Fortunately, accommodations are made. “I have LOOT status, which allows me to leave school early sometimes to make it to my training on time. That really helps to balance school and sport.”
Growing together as a team
For Venna, the Young Talents program means much more than financial support. “It’s really nice to be part of a team with other athletes. Normally, as an individual athlete, you often face things alone, but here you really have a team around you. We learn a lot from each other, and that is very motivating! Everyone does a different sport and shares their experiences, which inspires me to keep pushing forward.”
Coming back after an injury
In recent years, Venna has made significant progress, but it hasn’t been without setbacks. “The biggest challenge for me was dealing with a long-term injury. It was a difficult period, but I learned to cope with it. In the end, I came out stronger, and that gives me confidence for the future.”
Dreams and goals
Despite the challenges, Venna continues to dream big. Her ultimate goal? To reach the WTA Tour and eventually maybe even play in a Grand Slam. “I work on that every day. I want to keep improving my tactics, get stronger in physical training, and also grow mentally. I also want to take international steps and keep developing myself at that level.” Of course, there’s also time for relaxation. “Meeting up with friends is always fun, and I listen to a lot of music.”
Looking forward
Now that she is returning from her injury, Venna is looking forward to the coming year with a lot of energy. “I want to take big steps in my development and keep challenging myself. This year is about getting stronger tactically, physically, and mentally. I’m really excited and want to show what I’m capable of.”
