IKPO IGBINOBA
Organisers of the maiden edition of the VEMP Wheelchair National Tennis Championship, have announced cash prizes for players.
The championship will serve off on Sunday at the courts of the National Stadium in Surulere.
Head of Wheelchair Department of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Lateef Shodipo told P.M. EXPRESS that the winners in both the male and female categories will pocket N100,000 each.
The runner-up in both categories will collect N70,000 each while the semi-finalists will go home with N50,000 each.
The total prize money in the championship sponsored by the President of the NTF, Mr Dayo Akindoju is N1.4 million.
“There are other prizes at different stages of the championship,” Shodipo said.
Aside from cash awards, the winners and runners-up will also receive trophies.
Meanwhile, the players in their numbers took over the courts of the National Stadium on Wednesday as they prepared for the three-day event.
However, the undisputed number one player in the country, Alex Adewale was still being expected in Lagos.
The Benin City-based player according to sources would be in Lagos by the weekend early enough to begin his title defence as Nigeria’s top player.
His perennial rival, Wasiu Yusuf has vowed to topple him during this championship.
After playing the second fiddle to Adewale for ten years, Wasiu said during the week it was time for him to end his reign.
“I am tired of playing the second fiddle to Adewale, so this time, I will dethrone him” Wasiu boasted after a training session.
Mr Shodipo while thanking the sponsor of the championship, Mr Akindoju renewed his appeal to corporate organisations and philanthropists to come to the aid of Wheelchair Tennis.
“The NTF President, Mr Dayo Akindoju has tried with two sponsorship. I am appealing to philanthropists and corporate entities to sponsor Wheelchair Tennis because we have a lot of potentials.
“If we get regular sponsored events, Nigeria will rule the world of Wheelchair Tennis because this country is blessed with talents”, he said.
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