BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE
WASIU YUSUF of Nigeria Sunday claimed the men’s singles title at the 2ND ITF PUMA ENGINEERING WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP in Abuja following a 6-4, 6-3 win over 2018 champion ALEX ADEWALE.
The second seeded YUSUF, who battled past COLLINS OMONDI of Kenya in the semi-finals, was at his best form wrapping up the encounter in one hour 20 minutes.
Both players have competed for the finals of the CBN Open, the biggest national tournament with ADEWALE posing an unblemished 7-0 win-loss record against Yusuf and being the first time they will be facing each other in an international event, it was the fast-serving Yusuf that took control of the match to gather confidence that saw him pushed through.
The women’s title was fiercely contested with KAFAYAT OMISORE staking her title against CHITURU NWAOZUZU.
Like YUSUF, NWAOZUZU avenged her 2018 semi-finals loss to KEMI OLUWASEGUN and sustained the tempo in a 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 match to inflict pain on OMISORE who conquered her in the CBN final in June in a match that lasted nearly three hours.
Africa Wheelchair Tennis President ENGR SANI NDANUSA, who facilitated the $3,500 prize-money Championship expressed delight at Nigerians showing at the tournament pledging to do more to make Nigeria the best wheelchair tennis nation in Africa and a force to be reckoned with globally.
He disclosed plans to increase the prize money in subsequent editions stressing that the tournament will also be a platform for other African countries to challenge at the world level.
Nigeria completed another title sweep as ADEWALE and YUSUF defeated Kenyans COLLINS OMONDI and PETER MUNUVE 6-2, 6-4 to retain their doubles crown while NWAOZUZU paired TOSIN DAWODU to win the women’s doubles at the expense of Kenyan duo of JANE NDENGA and ASIYA SURURU 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
Africa Wheelchair Tennis President ENGR SANI NDANUSA, who facilitated the $3,500 prize-money Championship expressed delight at Nigerians showing at the tournament pledging to do more to make Nigeria the best wheelchair tennis nation in Africa and a force to be reckoned with globally.
He disclosed plans to increase the prize money in subsequent editions stressing that the tournament will also be a platform for other African countries to challenge at the world level.
