The Table Tennis Section of the elite Ikoyi Club 1938 is now the beehive of activities as the 5th NNPC–NUIMS Table Tennis Tournament served off.
The five-day event which is featuring over 70 participants competing is six different categories has a brand-new Toyota Corolla as star prize.
The categories are Men’s Singles (Premiership), Men’s Singles (Championship), Ladies Singles, Veterans, Septua Veteran Singles and Men’s Doubles.
Table Tennis Section Chairman, Dare Olude expressed delight at the large turnout of participants pointing that the star prize has given a high value to the tournament
“This is the first time ever that a prize of the magnitude will be handed out to the champion and it goes alongside big generator sets for other category winners.
“We are delighted and it promises to be fun all the way to the final on Friday,” Olude stated.
In some of the Premiership matches decided on the opening day, Tony Aroede defeated Ivy Ikokwu while John Akingbade outlasted Kehinde Ojo. Afeez Oduntan also had a bright start so also was Gbenga Fetuga as they both had wins in their round-robin qualifying matches.
In the championship, Kazeem Tewogbade defeated Femi George. Yomi Benson, Ola Oriola and Kehinde Lawal also secured wins in their round-robin matches.
In the veterans’ singles, Ajibona Lookman, the father of Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman defeated Lanre Omotayo while Seun Oki get the better of Ebiye Sosimiari
Ayo Ogunyinka was victorious against Bola Ogunrinde while Kolawole Salami won Augustine Anozie.
Games Captain Okechi Ugoji informed that the Ladies Singles and other categories will commence todaywith all the preliminaries scheduled to be completed tomorrow with finals of all the categories slated for Friday.
He was a star tennis player during his heyday no wonder Nduka Odizor is not happy with the state of the sport in the country even as he reveals plans to team up with Edo State government to resuscitate the famous Ogbe Hard Court
Nigeria Tennis legend, Nduka Odizor, said he was left in a state of total shock following the deteriorated state of the sport in Nigeria hence his wakeup call to the leadership of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF).
He said the NTF must be alive to their responsibilities of returning the sport to the grassroots by fishing out hidden talents to ensure the sport bounce back into reckoning from its present state of doldrum.
Nicknamed “The Duke” Odizor, the ex-tennis star blamed the retrogression of tennis in the country on lack of continuity and consistency on the part of the Nigeria Tennis Federation.
Odizor started playing tennis as a school boy in Benin city, Edo state and went on to feature in the National Sports Festival and in the Nigeria’s tennis team as a teenager. He was part of Nigeria’s Davis Cup team and represented Nigeria at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
He won several singles and doubles titles in Lagos and at the popular Ogbe Hard Court in Benin City. He went on to win international tournaments in Taiwan, Mexico, Dallas, New York, Tokyo, Sydney and other cities.
At the peak of his tennis career, Odizor reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon Open in 1983 and was the only Nigerian to play on centre court of the All England club. He featured in the U.S Open, the French Open and Australian open and was rated number 52 in the ATP world ranking in 1984.
Despite his vast experience, expertise, exposure and knowledge of the sport as a former player and member of important global tennis organisations, Odizor is yet to impact the administration of tennis in Nigeria.
He said he made several efforts with the intentions to administer Nigerian tennis but was never welcomed.
“I made moves and I tried to help, but the bad system in Nigeria would not welcome people like me who know and understand the game but not ready to play dirty politics,” he said in an interview with Television Continental (TVC).“It’s been difficult to get into the tennis federation because those of us who are based overseas have been shut out.
“You wouldn’t believe that several years after being voted into office, nobody in the Nigeria Tennis Federation has reached out to me to seek my contribution. it’s a shame.”
Odizor who had a part of his secondary school education at the famous New Era secondary school in Benin City, featured and won titles at the Ogbe Hard Court Tournament in Benin.
The once popular and glamorous tennis championship has been extinct for many years, but Odizor is keen on collaborating with the Edo state government to resuscitate the event.
The tennis icon also expressed his desire to host six tournaments in all the six political zones of the country with the aim of helping tennis to thrive again in Nigeria.
He continued: “It will be quite busy for me this year, because I had a meeting with Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and we are making plans to restart the Ogbe hard court tennis championship in Benin.
“Besides that, I will be running and funding at least six different tournaments in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria and that will be my little way of helping Nigerian tennis.”
Incidentally, Odizor established a tennis foundation in 2004 which he runs from his base in Houston, the United States with offices in Abuja and Asaba in Nigeria. Through the foundation, Odizor returns to Nigeria often to hold tennis clinics and teach Nigerian children how to play the game.
Destiny Da Silva reaffirmed his status as the top player in Ikoyi Club as he emerged the Men’s Singles A winner of the 2023 Rainoil Grandslam Tennis Tournament at the weekend.
Da Silva, who is the most ranked player in the board’s ladder, defeated Akeem Mustafa, who is the section chairman and the club’s third ranked player, to cart home the top prize.
“It was a great feeling to go into the yuletide with another title. It’s been a week of fun and everyone is delighted,” he said.
Peter Udoetuk defeated Azubuike Okonkwo to win the Men’s B crown while Nora Azubuike got the better of Ejehi Effiong to win the Ladies title.
Tennis expert and administrator, Godwin Kienka won the Veteran title at the expense of Edet Akpaso while Innocent Ihebuzor defeated Walter Jibunor to rule the Super Veteran class.
Rainoil Station edged Rainoil Logistics to win the team event of the week-long tournament which ended on Saturday.
Ikoyi Club Chairman, Tafa Zibiri-Aliu lauded Rainoil for their commitment to the tournament noting it has been a household event in the tennis section.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rainoil Limited, Godwin Ogbechie expressed delight at the level of friendship and camaraderie on display saying the sponsor will continue to put up better packages in subsequent editions.
“As a company, Rainoil Limited is always passionate about tennis and we are proud to be putting our money where our passion is; and to this end we look forward to the next edition which I believe will be bigger,” Ogbechie said.
Notorious tennis star Nick Kyrgios has set out his plans for retirement after admitting that he is ‘tired’ of the sport at the age of just 28.
Kyrgios, known for his controversial antics on and off the court, played just one match on the ATP Tour in 2023 amid injury problems and subsequent surgery, which came with defeat to Yibing Wu at the Stuttgart Open in June.
The fiery Australian, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, recently confirmed that he will not be fit to play the Australian Open in January, the first Grand Slam of 2024 which gets underway on January 14.
Kyrgios has now revealed that he plans to call time on his career in the next two years – but is aiming to compete for major titles before he hangs up his racket.
“I only want to play for about another one to two years, and be at the top, and go down my own terms,” Kyrgios told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. “I would hate to have another surgery or anything like that. I think I’ve still got the ability to have a good one to two years and then that’s it.
“I think I’ll be at peace with everything I’ve achieved and… I’m going to have to just say, ‘Look, to everyone out there who wants me to play more, you’re just going to have to be OK with me not playing anymore’.
“If I had a bit of a normal career and I flew under the radar, I don’t feel I’d feel this way, but those couple years really [with mental health struggles], I think, put a lot on my age.
“It’s just hard. I am tired. I’m tired of playing tennis.”
“[Rehabilitation] is hard. I’m going to the gym, I’m doing my rehab, these surgeries aren’t just like little surgeries, they’re like you might have something seriously wrong with your body and it takes time.
“I’m only human… it takes months and months of strength, consistency, diligence to get back to playing tennis at that high level again.
“I don’t want to get back on tour and just play decent, I was competing for a Grand Slam, so I want to get back to that level. So it might take a bit more time.”
Kyrgios has lifted seven singles trophies on the ATP Tour to date and also won a major doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open in 2022.
After about five days of intense competition, semi-finalists have emerged in the annual Rainoil Grandslam Tennis tournament taking place at the Tennis section of Ikoyi Club 1938.
The singles A and B cadre will have contenders filling out today for the semi-final showdown.
A total of 16 players that started the event in Singles A are now reduced to four just as 32 players who started in Singles B are reduced to four.
Chairman of the Tennis section Akeem Mustafa told our correspondent that the competition had been very stiff.
“I must say the form of many members in this edition is a surprise to me because we have witnessed a great display so far and we expect more in final stages,” he said.
Defending champion Adestitu Da Silva is one of those still in the race as just two finalists will emerge from Singles A and B after today
The final of the event which started on December 7 is Saturday December 16 .
The annual Grandslam Tennis competition sponsored by Rainoil starts today at the Ikoyi Club 1938.
On Tuesday December 5, the draws for the event were made as club members are expected to be on parade to showcase their skills and earn bragging rights over one another in the competition.
The men will compete for honours in the Singles A and B categories while the women are to compete in the Ladies singles.
Veteran singles cadre is on the cards for smashers between ages of 60 and 69 while the players of 70 years and above will take part in the Super Veterans cadre.
The team event will also be held in the tournament expected to run till December 16.
While the individual events start today, team events will serve off on Monday December 11.
Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Tennis section, Akeem Mustafa, said yesterday that all was set for the tournament.
“We have been preparing for this for some time now and we are ready. In our usual way at Ikoyi Club, we set good standard to create the template for all participants. I am certain that all the participants will enjoy the forthcoming competition,” Mustafa said.
Destiny Da defeated O. Emelie 6/3, 6/3 to emerge champion last year just as Team Retail defeated Jet Fuel 7-3 to win the team event in the final of the last edition on 3rd December 2022.
A record 93 participants took part in the tournament which lasted 13 days with eight categories contested for..
While reaffirming GB Foods commitment to the nutritional wellbeing of Nigerians, GB Foods Brand Manager Bama Mayonnaise Bright Mgbemele said the Lagos Country Club as a leading family recreational club in Nigeria connects with the values of GB Foods in promoting love and friendship among families.
“For us, it’s beyond partnership; its beyond marketing but a commitment at overall wellbeing of Nigerians at large,”Mgbemele said.
Marketing Manager, GB Foods, Foluke Femi-Sanda said the company is delighted to be promoting family union and friendship alongside a reputable brand as the Lagos Country Club.
GB Foods are the makers of Bama Mayyonaise, Gino Tomato paste, Jumbo seasoning cubes and other food products and in demonstrating their renewed commitment, prizes were given to participants from the quarterfinalists of each category.
Tennis Section Chairman Babatunde Fashanu (SAN) commended GB Foods for sustaining their sponsorship pointing that an improved sponsorship reflects their true commitment to the programme.
“Their commitment to promote friendship and unite families through recreation can never be doubted with their improved support.
“The more they are sponsoring us, the more they are getting better,” Fashanu stated pointing to the fact that Jumbo seasoning cube was recently added to GB Foods list of products.
Section captain, Omon Ehighebolo said that the Lagos Country Club as the epicenter of family recreation activities in Nigeria will continue to promote peace, friendship and also unite families.
The category winners are Capt, Ndubuisi Ekwempu (Men’s A), Gbonju Akingbade Men’s B) Ayo Odiah (Women’s Singles), Victor Ogbeide (Veterans’ Singles), Innocent Abu (Super Veterans), Akin Osiyemii / Joki Ugwuh (Men’s Doubles), Babatunde Fashanu/ Peter Mgbeahuru (Veterans Doubles), Bola Fatona/ Ayo Odiah (Women’s Doubles).
The Island Women Tennis Players Association has commended the standard of the just concluded second edition of IWTPA Breast Cancer Awareness Tennis Open.
The tourney was staged in collaboration with Ikoyi Club 1938 and Paelon Memorial Hospital. A total of 36 tennis players featured in the competition which was held an American Tournament format with about 70 women taking part in the health awareness session.
Head of the Planning committee for the tourney, Nora Azubuike, told our correspondent that the event was an overall success.
“We thank Dr. Adebimpe Abudu and the team from Paelon Hospital for the huge education which all the participants enjoyed.
“The tennis competition was also very interesting because it was difficult for the technical officials to determine the winners due to the keen nature of the competition. Overall, this is a big improvement of the first edition and we are hopeful it will get much better next year,” Azubuike explained.
In the tennis meet, Martha Mudi took top position while Ngozi Thomas and Adenike Adepoju placed second and third.
The trio were tied on 13 points before they were separated by balloting and it was the same case for Franca Adindu and Nene Lawani who were tied on 11 points before they were ranked after balloting.
Adejoke Adesina tied with four others but she was lucky enough to emerge as the sixth placed participant.
All the ranked players were each presented a trophy and medal while all the other participants also got medals.
The Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) has confirmed that 36th edition of the Dala hard Court Tennis championship will hold between November 10 and November 18.
The event will hold at the in Kano Tennis Club, Kano State. This was announced by the Director of the tournament Dr Yusuf Datti while briefing newsmen on the preparations of the tournament.
Dr. Yusuf Datti said they sought the advice of the Nigerian Tennis Federation to invite the top 20 men and 10 ladies ranked players into the main draw of the event.
According to him no fewer than 100 players from home and abroad would be expected to attend the tournament.
He said the preliminaries will hold between Nov 10 and November 12, with the main draw commencing Nov. 13.
He said that the organizing committee was set to provide accommodation and feeding to both National officials and players.
Datti explained that at the end of the tournament the men’s winner would pocket a million Naira while in the ladies category the winner would take home N500, 000.
He enumerated some of the sponsors of the tournament to include Dr. Aliko Dangote, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, Wacot Limited, Makaman Bichi Alhaji Isyaku Umar Tofa. Others are Turakin Gumel in Jigawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Maikano.
He said Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano would be the special guest of honour at the opening and closing ceremonies of the championship.
The ladies singles’ semi-finals of the ongoing Providus Bank Grand Slam Tennis take place today at the tennis courts of the Ikoyi Club 1938.
At the centre court, Maryann Chuks will take on Nora Azubuike in an encounter expected to be highly thrilling and explosive. The two of them have enjoyed good runs so far in the competition and followers of the Grand Slam believe the winner in the tie could go ahead to win the singles title.
In the second semi-final match, Ejehiwease Effiong will clash with Oluwawemimo Ogunsanya in a dicey tie that could go either way. The battle will be fought on court one.
In some of the men’s singles R. Dubre defeated V. Onyenkpa 6/3, 6/3, Destiny Da Silva beat Akeem Mustafa 6/3, 6/2 just as Felix Akoh defeated U. Okonkwo 6/2, 6/1.
