Abubakar, Edwards Emmanuel emerge winners at National TPP UTR Junior Tennis championships

Posted : 14 April 2024

The Tennis Players’ Parents Association (TPPA) UTR National Junior Tennis Classics has produced worthy winners in the five categories competed for after a one-week exciting tennis actions.

The maiden TPPA UTR championships held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, had in attendance winners of the zonal championships across the country.

Participants from different parts of the country fought rigorously for points at the competition, as the finalists emerged in the boys’ and girls’ youth, U-16, U-14, and U-12 categories. However, the only category without finalists is the girls’ U-14.

The top toast of the final match of the TPPA UTR staged at the clay court of the Lagos Country Club set up a titanic battle between two home boys from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abubakar Yusuf and Yahaya Sani-Inabo, who battled themselves in the Youth Category.

After a grueling match, Yusuf beat his fellow compatriot Sani-Inabo by 6-4, 6-1 to emerge as the worthy winner of the Youth Category.

Also, Bright Emmanuel from Lagos defeated Khadijat Mohammed by 6-3, 6-0 to win the female Youth category.

The U-16 category was more intense as David Edwards representing Lagos State battled Marvelous Bolarinwa to a standstill in a 7-6, 6-4, two-and-a-half-hour clay court battle.

Edwards eventually won the U-16 category, while Aina Goodnews from Ekiti defeated Toluwase Agunbiade from Cross Rivers in an excellent fashion of 6-4, 6-2 in the girls' category.

Seyi Ogunsakin, also from Ekiti, smarting from a powerful forehand, overpowered homeboy Nathaniel Aluko by 6-1, 6-2 to emerge as the Champions of the U-14 category for boys.

In the girls U-14 category, Gloria Samuel won with her stunning display against Emmanuella Kuzinge from Niger State, beating her in a 6-3, 6-3 display.

Also, in the U-12 Boys category, Adeiza Yakubu from Lagos defeated Peter Festus from Ekiti by 6-3, 6-4 to emerge as champions.

While 10-year-old Mofifunoluwa Atilola got the better of Salvation Alex by 6-0, 6-2 to win the U-12 girls category.

Speaking at the end of the tournament, the President of TPPA, Segun Aluko, said that the competition had fulfilled its mandate by unveiling the next generation of tennis stars in Nigeria.

``We have seen the tennis championships at its peak well displayed during this tournament.

``We have played our part by unveiling the future Stars of Nigeria in tennis; we have had our players play among the best in Africa, for now, the work is easier,'' he said.

The representatives of the German High Commission to Nigeria, Mr. Jochen Schindelarz, commended the organizers for putting up such fantastic junior tennis championships.

``I have been to many parts of Nigeria watching tennis, but what I have seen so far in Lagos is fantastic.

``These lads are the future of tennis in the world, and can be ranked among the best. I will urge them to continue with the good work,'' he said.

The winners of the National TPP UTR Junior Tennis championships received different rewards ranging from monetary educational grants, medals, and other exciting prizes.

Abubakar, Edwards Emmanuel emerge winners at National TPP UTR Junior Tennis championships

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