Sports
THE fifth Prince Victor Uwakwe under-15 and U-21 Regional Tennis tournament for South East states, on Tuesday served off inside the Enugu Sports Club Tennis Court.
The tournament tagged, Prince Victor Uwakwe Under-15 and 21 Regional Tennis Tournament, started on Tuesday, to end on Sept. 17.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament, which would be played inside the Enugu State Sports Club Tennis Court, Enugu will feature male and female in each category.
In his opening speech, Victor Uwakwe said the tournament started since 2016 and now undergoing it’s fifth edition in the state.
“This Tennis tournament is for the South East states and some of our sister states from the South South region to expose the children to tennis skills.
“Tennis exposes the children to some skills, values of discipline, fortitude and embibes their lives with positive thinking.
“It is for Youth empowerment and they are not being given cash reward but tennis equipment like rackets, shoes and other items,” he said.
Mr Robert Ngwu, Executive Captain of Tennis Section, thanked Prince Uwakwe for the programme and noted that the event had witnessed improvements each year.
He said the purpose of the tournament was to catch them young, to raise future tennis stars in the state and the country in general.
Also, Prof. Agu Gab Agu, the Chairman, Enugu State Tennis Association, praised Uwakwe for his steadfastness in ensuring that youths were engaged to be meaningful in the society through sports.
“About four players from Enugu came back with medals from the recent Junior Tennis Tournament and that showed something good is coming out of the sponsorship.
“We are trying to raise players for the forthcoming national festival in Delta and there are lots of improvement in the game and its organisation.
“Enugu used to be the capital of Tennis in Nigeria and that is what we are looking forth, to raise players that will write the name of the state in Gold,” Agu said.
Meanwhile, Miss Amarachi Odoh, a Tennis player from Enugu, thanked the organisers for giving them an opportunity to play the game they loved so much every year.
According to her, she loved the sports and will love to play it beyond the shore of the country like Kwon Tennis players in the world.
Amarachi Odoh defeated Favour Abendego 6-2 at the exhibition game of the opening ceremony.(NAN)
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Tags: Enugu Sports Club Prince Victor Uwakwe
