After five days of intense tennis action, hostilities at the Kaduna Clay Court National Junior Tennis Championship came to a close on Saturday at the Kaduna Club. The tournament which was first held in 1978, entered its 11th edition this year, after not holding for more than a decade.
Over 100 Boys and Girls competed in the Clay Court event, but only four players went home with winner’s trophy as there were only four categories. With FCT having up to 20 participants at the tournament, there were also the biggest winners, claiming three out of the four trophies on offer, while Akwa-Ibom’s only representative, snatched the last one from FCT.
Here are those who claimed top honours:
In the Boys 14 and Under Category, third seed, Mohammed Idris worked his way through the Boys Draw, putting in very impressive display, capping it up with, coming back from a set down to defeat his fellow FCT team-mate Ezekiel Azi 5-7, 6-4, 10-3.
Boys’ 14 Champion, Mohammed Idris and Director of Sports Development Kaduna State, Mallam Yakubu Ibrahim.
Boys’ 14 Runner-up, Ezekiel Azi and Director of Sports Development Kaduna State, Mallam Yakubu Ibrahim.
In the Girls 14, third seed, Salamatu Haruna claimed victory in the category after going the entire tournament without dropping a set, the only player to do so. After getting a bye in the first round, Salamatu dropped only seven games in her three matches en-route the final, before outclassing Faith Adeusi 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday. Haruna’s victory ensured that FCT secured their second title of the tournament.
Girls’ 14 Champion, Salamatu Haruna and
Glo Regional Manager Secondary NW1, Mr Kayode Lawal.
Girls’ 14 Runner-up, Faith Adeusi and
Glo Regional Manager Secondary NW1, Mr Kayode Lawal.
In the Boys 16 field, FCT’s Canice Abua worked hard to earn his title after defeating home favorite Suleiman Ibrahim 7-5, 3-6, 10-5. The Top seed had to withstand the pressure of playing against Kaduna’s only hope of securing a title on the final day.
Boys’ 16 Champion, Canice Abua and Chairman Kaduna State Tennis State Tennis Association, Mr Joel Adi.
Boys’ 16 Runner-up, Suleiman Ibrahim and Chairman Kaduna State Tennis State Tennis Association, Mr Joel Adi.
In the Girls 16 and Under Category, Mary Udoffa made Akwa-Ibom proud after defeating Esther Azi 6-2, 4-6, 10-5. Udoffa’s victory prevented FCT from having a clean sweep at the tournament and it also ensures that she’s won back-to-back titles in 16s tournament this year, after previously claiming victory in the same category at the CBN Junior Tennis Championship last month.
Girls’ 16 Champion, Mary Udoffa and President Kaduna Club, Alhaji Muhammad Nasir Augie.
Girls’ 16 Runner-up, Esther Azi and President Kaduna Club, Alhaji Muhammad Nasir Augie.
