By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-15 03:14:15
The sixth Azimuth Shipping Lines Junior Tennis Championships are set to kick off at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos, with a record number of over 230 players participating in different categories. The youthful smashers will be competing in the Boys and Girls U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories, with the proceedings expected to take place from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Azimuth Shipping Lines, the proud sponsors of the championships have expressed their enthusiasm for the event, with Managing Director, Stephen Owolabi Martins, emphasizing the importance of their ‘catch them young’ initiative. The company hopes that this initiative will yield tangible results for Nigeria in the years to come. “Sports development is very important and that is why we enjoy seeing the young ones play. We are optimistic about a good event in the days ahead,” Martins said.
The Tournament Director, Jumoke Yakubu, has also expressed her excitement about the event, highlighting the encouraging registration numbers. “We will have a draw of 32 or 64 depending on the total number of entries we have in each of the categories. The sponsors have put everything in place for the kids to have huge fun during the competition, and we are hopeful that we are going to have a great tournament,” Yakubu said.
The previous edition of the tournament saw Amasiani Chukwudubem emerging as the champion in the Boys 12 and Under category, while Holzendorff Lorelay claimed victory in the U-14 Girls cadre. With the success of the previous editions, the sixth Azimuth Shipping Lines Junior Tennis Championships promises to be an exciting and competitive event.
The week-long tournament is set to conclude on January 20th, providing a platform for the young talent to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. The event not only serves as a competitive platform but also as an opportunity for young players to gain valuable experience and exposure in the world of junior tennis.
The Azimuth Shipping Lines Junior Tennis Championships is a significant event in the Nigerian tennis calendar and has been integral in nurturing the next generation of tennis stars. The support from sponsors and the dedication of the organizers have cemented the tournament as a key fixture in promoting sports development in the country.
As the anticipation builds for the competition, the focus remains on providing a positive and competitive environment for the young players to thrive in. The future of Nigerian tennis looks promising with initiatives like the Azimuth Shipping Lines Junior Tennis Championships paving the way for the next generation of tennis talent.
