The 2nd edition of the Play Your Age Junior Championships is currently underway at the National Tennis Centre in Abuja.
The competition, which is for both boys and girls, features six categories for three different age groups and has teams from different states’ tennis association competing.
In the boys under-10, Seyi Ogunsakin, who’s younger brother to Seun Ogunsakin, as well as 22 other players make up the category. They include Onyekachi Ofor, Israel Adewusi, Shaibu Ahmed, Salam Chimezie, Atulu Onoja, Sani Mohammed, Miracle Njeze, Mohammed Jubril, Peter Idoko, Usman Olamilekan, Frederick Innocent, Victor Hemba, Yohana Yakubu, Abasie Effiong, Solomon Yaweh, Chinedu Okordokwu, Rotshack Polycard, Justin Edeh, Elijah Kwangii, Musa Isah, Peter Ekpeyong, and Abdulahi Mohammed.
Seven players, including Mariam Azi Bala, Xena Odey, Nenrotmun Polycard, Mnena Lolumum, Mary Ekpeyong, Abigail Bolowo, and Khadijat Haruna, comprise the girls under-10 category.
The boys under-12 category has Seun Ogunsakin, Mohammed Idris, both of whom played part in leading the country’s boys team to a third-place finish at the AJC U-12 finals qualifiers in Benin in March. Ogunsakin was also the winner of the U-12 category at the Chevron Junior tournament which held in March, while Idris was runner-up. Both boys are joined by Ganiyu Mubarak, who represented Nigeria at the AJC U-14 event in Togo earlier this month, Hafiz Ibrahim, Shontova Ebac, Samuel Ita, David James Okon, Suleiman Idris, Adisa Imole, Daniel Chidikaobi, Ikenna Okonkwo, Precious Aliya, Yahaya Sani, Elijah Egena, Israel Cosmos, Shimank Dayok, Henry Aina, Kater Kpum, and Ezekiel Azi.
In the girls U-12 category, Salamatu Haruna, who won the girls U-12 category at this year’s Chevron Junior tournament, Eunice Lolumum, Mercy Monday, Benita Buenyom, Anthony Ekpereobong, Faith Adeusi, Success Ogunjobi, Favour Godwin, Peace Agbaje, Comfort Alex, Imole Afolabi, and Niniola Ajulo. Afolabi and Ajulo represented Nigeria at the AJC U-12 Finals qualifiers in Cotonou, Benin Republic, in March.
Gbolahan Olaniyan, Godwin Eze, Abubakar Yusuf, Emmanuel Usena, Usman Ibrahim, Paul Okonkwo, Sani Saidu, Ibrahim Bwadzani, Destiny Ijehon, Mohammed Abdullahi, Chibuzor Igwe, Monday Odey, Auwalu Shehu, Roland Adeniyi, Benjamin James, Theophilus Adebayo, Biynah Dayok, David Ekpeyong, Jeremiah Mevi, Yusuf Abubakar, Augustine Unity, and Isaac Danjuma, make up the 22 players in the boys under-14 category.
In the girls under-14 category, Iye Onoja, Ekenedilichukwu Ibeh, Favour Odey, Kemi Adebayo, Gift Ezekiel, Toyin Adeniran, Aderonke Adeniyi, Favour Abengowe, Eunice Lolumum, and Esther Oni, are all in action.
The Play Your Age tournament will be the first-ever junior tournament to be used to establish a national junior rankings. The final of this event will be held on Sunday.
