ABUJA – No fewer than 15 clubs are taking part in the 1st FCT Tennis Inter Club Tennis Championships in Abuja.
The championships which are being organised by the FCT Tennis Association served off on Friday at the National Tennis Centre, Package B, the National Stadium.
Dayo Akindoju Chairman FCT Tennis Association, who spoke to NAN at the opening ceremony, said that the purpose behind the tournament was to bring all the clubs in FCT together under one umbrella to compete.
“We got inaugurated as an association three months ago and so we felt that there was a need for synergy between the association and all the various clubs in the FCT.
“So, the idea behind the tourney is for all of us to familarise with one another to know ourselves.
Akindoju said that the association’s objective was also to fish out young talents in the FCT by organising more tournaments.
“This is our first edition and we hope to do organise this tournament on an annual basis so as to encourage grassroots development of the game in the FCT,’’ he said.
The clubs taking part in the championships include Abuja Tennis Club, Royale Tennis Club, Classy Tennis Club, City Sports Club, Abuja Country Club, Camp Wu Bassey Tennis Club, City Park Tennis Club.
Others are Civil Defence Tennis Team, Road Safety Tennis Team, IBB Golf and Tennis Club, Nicon Hilton Tennis Club, Abacha Barracks Tennis Club, Barcelona Tennis Club, Nicon Luxury Tennis Club and Nigeria Immigration Tennis Team.
In the round of 16 matches played today, Number one seed, Henry Atseye of Road Safety beat Christian Paul of Abuja Tennis Club 2-0 in the Singles category for professionals to progress to the quarter finals.
Sadiq Abubakar of Abuja Tennis Club defeated Nnamdi Okorie of the same club 2-0, while Emmanuel Omerua of Abuja Country Club walked over Princewell Emmanuel also of the same club.
Number four seeded player, Jonah Samuel of Civil Defence beat Peter Lawal of Abuja Country Club in two straight sets, while number three seed, Emmanuel Sunday beat Obi Simon of Abuja Country Club 2-1.
Also, Paul Samuel of Abuja Country Club saw off Isaac Omerua also of the same club in two straight sets, while Kesiye Maxwell of Abuja Tennis Club walked over number two seed, Moses Michael also of the same club.
In the final match of the day, Ahmed Alamu of Abuja Country Club beat Kabiru Ibrahim also of the same club 2-0.
NAN reports that the championships continue on Saturday with quarterfinal matches in the Singles Category for Professionals as well as round of 16 matches in the Singles Category for clubs and Singles for veterans.
Other categories include Doubles for Club members, doubles for veterans as well as Mixed Doubles.
The championships are expected to end on Saturday. (NAN)
