Lagos Open Tennis: US-Based Genesis Academy To Organise Clinic/Tournament For Youths

SUNDAY AKINTOYE

Jonathan Igbinovia

Nigerian youths are to enjoy moments of training and tournament in the ongoing 2019 Lagos Open Tennis at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan courtesy of the partnership between the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Genesis Tennis Academy, Arizona, USA.

Convener of the youth clinic, former Nigerian tennis champion, Jonathan Igbinovia told journalists on Thursday that the clinic and mini tournament became very important in order to bring back the lost glory of the sport as was in his playing days in Nigeria before he retired.

According to him, the LOC of the Lagos Open Tennis is supporting the project by creating a platform for the youth to train and compete during the ITF World Tour.

“About 80 youths will take part in the clinic, which will be in two stages. The first stage will be a two-day training between Thursday and Friday, while a mini tournament for these youths to showcase what they have learnt will hold between Saturday and Sunday. They will be given prizes and we are planning to expose winners to international training at the Genesis Tennis Academy in Arizona.

“We are expecting players from ages 10, 12, 14 and 16 years and I want to assure that the participants will live to remember what they would have learnt during the clinic,” Igbinovia said.

He called on Nigerians to support the project just like the LOC of the Lagos Open Tennis has done, adding that tennis techniques are better impacted on players at their tender ages.