Barbados plans to launch the International Road Tennis Federation before the end of this year as the government steps up efforts to take the island’s indigenous sport to the global stage, Minister of Sport Charles Griffith announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at the media launch of the fifth Barbados Road Tennis Open, Griffith said the global governing body would be based in Barbados and would serve as a key pillar in the efforts to grow the game.

“It is absolutely critical. I think there’s a need to have 50 countries or so that are involved in the process in terms of making it a legit international federation, but I think there’s a need for us to move now in terms of starting that particular international federation,” he said.