The vastly improved Chukwudubem Amasiani was the major attraction on Saturday as he swept the two titles at stake in the NNPC-SNEPCo Invitational Tennis Masters for boys and girls 12s and 14s in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The 12 year-old Abuja-based lad took full advantage of the decision of the organisers to allow very promising players play up one age group to beat top seed Gbolahan Olawale from Ondo State 12-10, 10-5 in a keenly contested and exciting match in the Boys 14 final. Amasiani went on to also clinch the Boys 12 title, defeating Joel Michael from Lagos 10-4, 10-6.
In the Girls 12 & Under, Mofifunoluwa Atilola of Lagos proved she’s head and shoulders above the field as she did not drop a set in the entire tournament. Atilola, whose service prowess mesmerised her opponents, defeated Favour Okon-James from Akwa Ibom 10-5, 10-5. The Girls 14 title was won by Gloria Samuel from Ekiti, who beat Fego Ayetuoma from Port Harcourt 12-10, 10-2.
The Invitational Masters featured some of the best juniors in the country and is aimed at stimulating the game of tennis in Bayelsa.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports and Olympic gold medalist, Daniel Igali, said the tournament was an eye opener for Bayelsa to take the development of tennis more seriously, especially as the sport was very lucrative worldwide.
He thanked the sponsors, who were represented by Chief Ucheoma Amaechi for Shell and Osinachi Nwosu for the NNPC, to continue the sponsorship and even raise the level as the talents he saw have the skill sets to become world class players.
The grand finale, which featured a two-hour basic tennis coaching programme for about 200 school children ,was organised by the International Tennis Academy and lasted one week.
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