Kenyan girls retain ITF/CAT junior title in Uganda
Kenya girls' team captain Veronica Osogo (behind the flag) with Nancy Kawira, Stacy Ahoya and Amani Gikunda lift the winners’ trophy at the ITF/CAT East African 12 & Under Teams' competition at Lugogo Tennis Club in Kampala, Uganda on October 15, 2021.
What you need to know:
- The trio of Nancy Kawira, Seline Ahoya and Amani Gikunda also advanced to the 2021 Africa 12 & Under championships slated for December this year at a venue yet-to-be announced.
- On the last day of competition at Lugogo Tennis Club, Kawira earned a walkover after her Tanzanian opponent Silvery Alisi withdrew on medical grounds, while Ahoya easily saw off Faith Njamukuya 6-0, 6-0.
Triumphant Kenya junior tennis team returns home on Sunday from Uganda where the girls retained title at the ITF/CAT East African 12 & Under Teams' competition in Kampala on Friday.
The trio of Nancy Kawira, Seline Ahoya and Amani Gikunda also advanced to the 2021 Africa 12 & Under championships slated for December this year at a venue yet-to-be announced.
On the last day of competition at Lugogo Tennis Club, Kawira earned a walkover after her Tanzanian opponent Silvery Alisi withdrew on medical grounds, while Ahoya easily saw off Faith Njamukuya 6-0, 6-0.
The Kenyans, who were coached by former professional tennis player Veronica Osogo, had floored Uganda 3-0 on the first day on Wednesday in the round-robin tournament.
Kawira defeated Hilder Afwoyoroth 6-2, 6-0 while Ahoya thumped Stacy Namirembe 6-0, 6-0 in singles. Kawira and Ahoya's partnership yielded a 6-1, 6-0 win against Namirembe and Claire Nalubuula in the doubles.
Kawira defeated Burundi's Yusra Irakoze 7-6, 6-1 as Ahoya hammered Ceila Kezakimana 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday. Ahoya teamed up with Amani Gikunda in the doubles to thrash Ceila Kezakimana and Ange Ishimwe 6-2, 6-3.
Kenya settled for bronze medal in the boys’ category after losing against Uganda 2-1 on Friday. Jeff Okuku, Ayush Bhandari and Reyan Bulsara had also suffered a 2-1 loss against Burundi on Thursday, a day after seeing off Tanzania 3-0.
“Both Kenyan teams played very well. The girls were outstanding. The boys played some great matches and each player played their best,” Tennis Kenya secretary general Wanjiru Mbugua, who traveled to Uganda as the Head of Delegation, said.
The girls team was coached by Osogo, while Collins Omondi handled the boys team.
Meanwhile, Angella Okutoyi’s bid to reach J3 Stellenbosch final ended in a 6-3, 6-3 semi-final exit at the hands of Kazakhstan’s Tatyana Nikolenko at Coetzeburg in South Africa on Thursday.
The Kenyan tennis star, ranked160th in International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior standings, swept aside 623rd-ranked South African Naledi Manyube 6-4, 6-2, 392nd-placed Kazakh Zhanel Rustemova 6-3, 6-4 and 127th-ranked Czech Amelie Smejkalova 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 in the first three rounds.
