‘NTF on course to grooming world beaters in tennis’
Apparently satisfied with the skills of its athletes at its justconcluded 2017 ITF/CAT West and Central African Tennis Championships, the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), says it is on course in grooming world beaters. The National Junior Coach, Mohammed Ubale, reviewing the competition held in Togo from Jan. 11 to Jan. 22, said yesterday in Lagos that the players had improved.
“The 12 athletes have put in so much effort into getting better. I am impressed by their performance at the competition.
“When we came on board some years ago, the tennis players were not this good. They have even worked on themselves to get acquainted with the latest techniques.
“They competed as if their lives depended on it and that’s good because it shows the level of their commitment to the sport and good sportsmanship too,” he said.
The highlight of the competition was 13-year -old tennis prodigy, Oyinlomo Quadri, who defeated the crowds’ favourite, Togo’s Dotsie Vania with an empathic 6-0, 6-0 win in the semi-finals.
Another was 2016 CBN’s Junior Tennis winner, Marylove Edwards, who defeated her opponent, Lorie Lemongo of Cameroon.
Edwards won with an enthralling 6-4, 6-4 win but sustained an injury in her wrist and could not continue with the competition.
Five of Nigeria’s 12 men will represent the country at the African Junior Championship in South Africa in March as they came first in the competition.
Côte d’Iviore came second, while Republic of Benin came third overall at the event.
Out of 12 countries that participated in the competition, Nigeria had the highest number of players who qualified. (NAN)