Players are knee-deep in qualifying action at the Dala Hard Court Championship in Kano, as the battle for main draw spots intensifies.
Joshua Aji, Rubi Toba, Michael Emmanuel, all of whom competed at the NTF International Junior Championships in Abuja the past fortnight, are among those in qualifying action.
Aji, who is fresh off back-to-back quarter-final showings at the NTF International Juniors in Abuja, powered past Dominic Ahmadu 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the next round.
Joshua Aji
Rubi Toba, who made it to the round of 16 at the junior event in Abuja last week, dismissed Nsikan Friday 6-1, 6-1, while Austin Odey defeated Ikililu Sani by the same scoreline.
Rubi Toba
Elsewhere, Isaac Kwange beat Jacob Jadiel 6-1, 6-4, while Chekube Ojobo rallied from a set down to oust Adamu Philip 3-6, 6-1, 10-6. Aliyu Umar was solid against Haruna Earnest, going away with a 7-5, 6-3 victory, while Solomon Idoko beat Aliyu Abubakar 6-3, 6-2.
Michael Emmanuel, who also competed at the Abuja Juniors, where he reached the round of 16 in the first leg, made light work of Anthony Azuonye, winning 6-2, 6-1.
Michael Emmanuel
Usman Kushimo, who was part of the boys team that secured Gold for Nigeria at the African Junior Championship in Lome, Togo, in Nigeria, was also in action on Saturday; the youngster easily beating James Daniel 6-1, 6-1.
In other matches, Ture Nuhu came from a set down to edge Obieze Uchenna 4-6, 6-1, 11-9, while Solomon Idoko took out Aliyu Abubakar in straights, registering a 6-4, 6-2 win. Ibrahim Idris beat Peter Joseph 5-7, 6-2, 10-7, Emmanuel Onyejiaka also won in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8, against Ibrahim Lawal, while Abel Enosoregbe thrashed Garba Auwal 6-1, 6-2.
Other results
Usman Abubakar bt. David Igoche 6-1, 6-4
Adah Anthony bt. Tosin Akinwunmi 6-0, 1-6, 10-8
Bashir Isah bt. Awalu Sani 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
Jolly Joseph bt. Adefilaka Ahmed 7-5, 4-6, 10-7
Josiah Israel bt. Adamu Jibrin 6-4, 6-2
Isaac Emeruwa bt. Lawal Ismaila 6-1, 6-3
Ayodeji Omodara bt. Peter Kwange 6-3, 6-0
Mohammad Abdulsalam bt. Alpha Ali 5-7, 6-4, 10-4
Kabiru Ibrahim bt. Ali Bashir 6-0, 6-1
Hassan Shuaibu bt. Garba Usman 2-6, 6-3, 10-4
Isaac Danjuma bt. Kelvin Okeke 7-5, 6-3
Andrew Idoko bt. James Jerry 6-3, 6-3
Ridwan Morakinyo bt. Yau Sani 6-3, 6-3
Raymond Lumas bt. Fortune Joseph 7-5, 6-2
Monday Izomor bt. Chiyawa Anas 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
The women’s qualifiers is underway on Sunday at the Kano Club in Kano, with Naomi Sunday, Amara Nwokolo among those in action.
