1st VEMP Wheelchair Tennis Tourney: Ladies Thrill As Contest Serves Off

IKPO IGBINOBA 

Ladies took the centre stage on Monday as the 1st VEMP Wheelchair Open Championship served off at the National Stadium in Lagos.

Olajumoke Olajide advanced after trouncing Igho Otuoraha 4-2, 4-2. 

In the second game of the day,  Afuape Abisoye was dispatched from the tournament by Lawal Rukayat in two sets 5-3, 4-1.

Aisha Yahaya had it easy over Atinuke Shoremekun 4-0, 4-1. The championship continues today with the big boys joining the fray.

The tournament was earlier in the day threatened by the players who insisted that they should be paid a subsidy by the organisers.

It took appeals from Head of the Wheelchair Department, Lateef Shodipo National Coach (Wheelchair Tennis) Frank Tarmena and Secretary-General of Nigeria Tennis Federation (Wheelchair Tennis Department) Mr Anthony Idaye and captain Wasiu Yusuf the situation was brought under control.

Meanwhile, Coach Tarmena said the tournament which is ranking will also afford him the opportunity to look out for players who could be groomed for the national team.

According to him “In a ranking tournament of this nature, we lookout for budding stars who can be groomed to be national team players”.

If funds are available, Nigeria will join the rest of the world in Turkey to vie for honours in the qualifiers of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup.

Meanwhile, number one player Alex Adewale and his perennial rival Wasiu Yusuf look determined to dominate the championship.

In the run-up to the championship, Yusuf had boasted that he was no longer going to play the second fiddle to Adewale.

The champion in his reaction said he was looking forward to defending his top spot against any player.