Young tennis players from at least six states including the Federal capital Territory, FCT, shone brightly at the just concluded 13th Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Junior Tennis Championship staged in Lagos.
The weeklong championship which served off on April 28 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court Tafawa Balewa Square had over 15 states in attendance.
However, on the final day, it was states like Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Lagos State and the FCT that carted home the juicy winning prizes that were at stake.
Playing in the boys 10 and under category, Yohana Yakubu, from FCT, Abuja defeated hard fighting Arwal Jaji from Lagos 8-10, 10-7, 10-8. to emerge Champion while Lore Lax Holzendorf beat Esther Ehimebe 2-1 (10-5, 2-10, 10-5 in what was an all Edo final to emerge victorious.
The boys U-12 was won by Sensational Seun Ogunshaki from Ekiti State while Nene Yakubu of Lagos outclassed Favour Amaechi from Rivers state to claim the girls 12 and under title. Also victorious was Akwa Ibom State play maker, David Ekpeyong who ran home with the boys 14 and under trophy when he defeated Oyo state player, Ganiyu Mubarak in two straight sets, 10-4, 10-2
Suleiman Ibrahim from Abuja beat David Dawariye from River state 10-4, 7-10,10-8 in a hard fought U-16 boys final battle to come out tops even as Omolade Aderemi from Ondo State conquered Omolayo Bamidele from Ekiti state with 2-0 straight win to emerge as the U-16 girls champion.
Lagos state player, Serena Teluwo won the U-14 Girls category by defeating Abuja’s Salamatu Haruna 10-5, 10-7 in the final.
Speaking at the grand finale, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, Direcor, Corporate Communications Department, CBN who represented the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, commended all the players and officials who took part in the tournament for their commitment.
