National Wheelchair Tennis tourney Ends In Lagos Today

IKPO IGBINOBA 

After two days of exciting encounters, the National Wheelchair Tennis Tournament will end this afternoon at the National Stadium in Surulere.

Lined up for the day are the semi finals and finals in both the male and female categories.The tournament  bankrolled by the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Mr.Dayo Akindoju produced some scintillating performance from the top seeds.

Leading the big guns’ charge into the semi finals stage was number one seed in the men’s category, Alex Adewale.

The undisputed king of wheelchair tennis in Nigeria was merciless against number eight seed, Austin Benedict who he knocked out of the tournament in two sets of 4-0, 4-0.

However, the second seed Wasiu Yusuf was stretched to the limit by unseeded Razak Bankole.Yusuf prevailed in the clash 4-1, 5-3 but Razak boosted his fan base with his performance.

The unseeded Razak had earlier in the day created an upset by beating number five seed Kayode Alabi.The third and fourth seeds did not have any problem overcoming their opponents to move into the stage of the last four.

Williams Ukari, seeded number three dismissed Sefiu Ojeleye 4-0, 4-1 while fourth seed Kazeem Akanbi beat Idowu Ajani 4-0, 4-0.In the women’s category, Kafayat Omisore who is the top seed beat Vivian Ozurumba 4-1, 4-1.Kemi Oluwasegun, seeded number two sacked Gloria Egbogu 4-1, 4-2 to book a place among the last four. Fourth seed Tosin Dawodu, a veteran of the game succumbed to the superior fire power of Foluke Shodeinde 5-4, 4-0 while number three seed Nwazuru Chituru beat Justina Ofoha the number seven seed 4-0, 4-0.

Head of the Wheelchair Tennis Department of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Lateef Shodipo told PM Express that the closing ceremony would commence at noon.”

The cash prizes would be presented to the winners during the closing ceremony to be graced by some sports dignitaries”.

He thanked the NTF president, Dayo Akindoju for providing the funds to organise the tournament.”

On behalf of all the wheelchair tennis players in the country and other stakeholders, I want to say a big thank you to the President of the NTF, Mr. Dayo Akindoju. He has done very well”, the wheelchair tennis chief remarked.