No fewer than 150 athletes from 36 states and FCT would compete for honours in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) week-long Junior Tennis Championship taking place at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.
The championship which is the 13th edition in series aims to identify and develop the best junior athletes (aged 10-16years) to represent Nigeria and become world class players will run from Monday, April 29 – Saturday, May 4 at the city of excellence.
The Director of the International Tennis Academy, Godwin Kienka, who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sports, said the championship will remain a breeding ground which has produced professional players that have represented the country at the senior level while lauding the Central Bank of Nigeria for their continuous support for the development of the game in the country.
“We are glad to have the 13th edition of the CBN tennis championship here in Lagos, this is part of our initiative for the development of the game, we are glad to say we have built a strong foundation that has positioned a lot of players to become professionals which have come through hardwork with support from the CBN for the past 13years,” he said.
“We have established young players who have emerged champions in the senior categories like Sylvester Emmanuel, Thomas Otus just to mention a few who now dominate the country and also the girls in 2016 Mary Loveth at 14years then got to the finals of the CBN senior event and she is now living aboard to launch their professional career.”
(Leadership)